Battle heats up between small energy suppliers and big six as temperatures drop
Big six energy suppliers now feature in five out of ten places in the best buy tables, following the launch of SSE’s new ‘SSE Direct’ tariff
EDF Energy offers the longest fixed deal on the market, with energy prices frozen to May 2018
npower’s latest ‘Intelligent Control’ tariff includes a free intelligent Nest thermostat worth £249
Small suppliers have led the charge this year by offering some of the cheapest deals – Extra Energy maintains pole position with the lowest tariff at £984 a year
Following months of deals by smaller energy providers undercutting the big six, there are signs of a fight back from the UK’s larger energy companies, according to Uswitch.com, the price comparison and switching service.
The launch of SSE’s ‘SSE Direct’ tariff means that big six companies now occupy five out of ten spots in the best buy tables. Sainsbury’s Energy, powered by British Gas, comes fifth in the tables with a fixed deal of £1,099 until October 2015. SSE has reduced their cheapest tariff from £1,115 to £1,029 bringing them in at seventh place. EDF Energy, npower and ScottishPower fill eight, ninth and tenth spots, respectively.
While the coveted first place is still held by small supplier Extra Energy, with its ‘Fresh Fixed Price Nov 2015 v2’ tariff at £984, many of the big six suppliers have upped their game in the last month with better deals, long term fixed prices, and new tariffs bundled with free products to help customers save energy.
EDF Energy’s ‘Blue+Price Freeeeze’ tariff (£1,210) allows people to fix their bills until May 2018 – longer than any other on the market. Meanwhile, npower’s ‘Intelligent Control’ tariff (£1,169) offers households the opportunity to fix energy costs until October 2016 and comes with a free intelligent Nest thermostat, worth £249.
Tom Lyon, energy expert at Uswitch.com, says: “Small suppliers have been leading the charge with the cheapest deals, so it’s great news for consumers that the big six are fighting back with better tariffs. These include ‘SSE Direct’, npower’s ‘Intelligent Control’ plan – which comes with a free intelligent Nest thermostat – and the longest term fixed plan on the market from EDF.
“Suppliers need to prove themselves both on price and service if they want to win customers so no company – big or small – can afford to rest on its laurels. Consumers are voting with their feet and are easily attracted by cheaper prices and the promise that their bills will be protected from future price rises.
“With winter approaching, consumers need to get themselves into gear and secure a better deal before the cold weather starts to bite. There is currently a £304 difference between the cheapest and the most expensive tariff on the market, so it is well worth the minutes it takes to shop around and see what the market has to offer.”
Source: Uswitch.com. Based on a medium usage customer using 3,200 kWh of electricity and 13,500 kWh of gas paying by direct debit with bill sizes averaged across all regions
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Energy best buy table (as of Thursday, 16th October, 2014)
| | Place | Supplier | Plan name | Average bill size | Tariff type | | 1 | Extra Energy | Fresh Fixed Price Nov 2015 v2 | £984 | Fixed | | 2 | First Utility | iSave Fixed November 2015 (v33) | £992 | Fixed | | 3 | OVO Energy | Better Energy Fixed (Online) | £998 | Fixed | | 4 | Green Star energy | Rate Saver 12M Fixed 1410 (paperless) | £1,004 | Fixed | | 5 | Sainsbury’s Energy | Fixed Price October 2015 | £1,009 | Fixed | | 6 | The Cooperative Energy | Fair & Square October 2015 | £1,026 | Fixed | | 7 | SSE | SSE Direct | £1,029 | Fixed | | 8 | EDF Energy | Blue+Price Promise March 2016 | £1,039 | Fixed | | 9 | ScottishPower | Online Fixed Price Energy November 2015 | £1,045 | Fixed | | 10 | npower | Online Price Fix May 2016 | £1,056 | Fixed |
Source: Uswitch.com. Based on a medium usage customer using 3,200 kWh of electricity and 13,500 kWh of gas paying by direct debit with bill sizes averaged across all regions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jason Wakeford
Phone: 0203 872 5612
Email: jason.wakeford@uswitch.com
Twitter: @UswitchPR
Notes to editors
The most expensive dual-fuel tariff paid by monthly direct debit is Ebico at £1,288. The least expensive tariff is Extra Energy at £984 which equals a difference of £304.
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