CHOOSING YOUR GAS AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIERS

Transcription

1 CHOOSING YOUR GAS AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIERS

2 You have the opportunity to choose between electric suppliers and also gas suppliers if there is an existing mains gas supply to the property. Previously both gas and electricity would have only been available from one company which supplied your area. If you are confused about all the talk about changing gas and electricity suppliers then this short guide may help. Please take some time to read through this guide carefully. Households in Wales with a mains gas supply are able to choose their gas supplier. Several gas and electricity companies are licensed by the gas/electric regulator (OFGEM) to operate in the UK. In this competitive market place each company is trying to attract new customers with a variety of packages which may include price reductions, attractive contract terms and conditions, the chance to win a free holiday etc. There may be real advantages in changing to new gas and electricity suppliers, particularly in the form of reduced bills. Switching to a new supplier does not affect the way the gas and electricity is delivered to your home as the same cable (electricity) and pipes (gas) and metering system will continue to be used. The only obvious change will be the name of the company that appears on bills, statements and correspondence. Do I have to change to a new electricity/gas supplier? NO. The choice is yours, so if you are happy with the company that already supplies your electricity/gas, you can stick with them. You need not take any action at all. 2

3 Who is allowed to supply electricity/gas? Only companies which have been granted a licence by (OFGEM) are allowed to supply electricity. They must be able to meet strict conditions, for example they must offer a variety of ways for customers to pay for their electricity/gas such as by cheque or direct debit. They must also provide special services for elderly, disabled and chronically sick people. How will I hear about the new companies? Electricity and gas companies will try to sell you their services in different ways, such as: Advertisements: In newspapers and magazines. Direct mail: A leaflet may be put through your door or posted to you. Telephone calls: You may receive a telephone call from sales representatives. Doorstep Selling: A sales representative may call and outline the benefits of switching to their company. You should always ask for some identification and which company they represent. Company representatives should not call before 8.00am in the morning or after 8.00pm at night. Internet: Price comparison services are available through Energy Watch or 3

4 How do I find out who my existing supplier is? All enquires regarding your gas and electricity supplier should be directed to Energy Watch (the independent regulator) on To find out who your supplier is, phone this number. I am thinking of switching supplier. What should I do? First shop around. Some tenants may be able to reduce their electricity/gas bills by taking advantage of competition. However, it will be worth your while to look carefully at what is on offer from a number of companies. Try to find a supplier that best suits your personal circumstances. There are a wide variety of offers available from the different companies. Some have no standing charge (you just pay for the electricity/gas you use). Find out how charges are made up. Are you likely to be any better off? Others require payment by direct debit (and therefore a bank account is required) but charge less for electricity/gas, leading to considerable savings. 4

5 Your Contract When you want to change to a new electricity/gas company you will be asked to sign a contract with them. The contract is between you and the individual company. Tai Tarian is not involved in this procedure and you don t have to ask for our permission to change to a different electricity/gas supplier. Do not sign a contract unless you understand it completely and are happy with the terms and conditions. If you are unsure about anything ask for an explanation before you sign. There are several types of contract: Fixed term contract This means that the company will charge a fi xed price for an agreed length of time. If you decide to cancel the contract there may be a fee. When the contract ends you can choose to sign another contract with the same company-which may be a higher price, or transfer to another company. Rolling contract This means that the contract will continue until you cancel it. This price can go up and down. If you decide to cancel you will not have to pay a fee. Deemed contract If you are a new tenant of Tai Tarian this section particularly applies to you. If you move into a new home and start using electricity/gas immediately without signing a contract with a utility company, you will have a deemed contract. This means that the utility company that is supplying your electricity/gas will act as if you had signed a contract with them. The utility company does not have to charge you the same price for electricity/gas under a deemed contract, but must publish the price. You may have to pay more for the electricity/gas than customers who have signed a contract with the same company. You should sign the contract therefore as soon as possible either with the company that is already supplying your new home with electricity/gas or with another company. 5

6 What if I want to cancel my contract? You can cancel either a fixed contract or a rolling contract before or after the contract starts. In either case you must sign a contract with a different electricity/gas company, and write to the company you already have a contract with giving them 28 days notice that you want to cancel your contract. You can change suppliers as often as you like, so long as you keep to the 28 day rule for ending contracts. Can I change my supplier if I have a pre-payment meter? Yes, you will be able to change suppliers as long as you are not paying off any arrears. If you are thinking of changing companies you should tell the companies that you have a pre-payment meter when you ask them for details of their prices and services. They may only want to supply you if they can put in a credit meter to replace your pre-payment meter. What if I cannot pay my bill? If you have problems paying for electricity/gas, companies must offer assistance and advice.they must agree a plan with you to repay the debt, and/or offer you a pre-payment meter which would allow you to pay for your electricity/gas as you use it and at the same time pay off any debt. If you are having problems making payments make sure you contact your supplier. 6

7 Can I change suppliers if I am in debt to my existing company? NO. You will not be able to change suppliers until the debt to your current supplier is cleared. The same will apply if you have a bill outstanding for more than 28 days. What if my supplier goes out of business? It is unlikely, but should this happen your electricity/gas will not be cut off. OFGEM will immediately appoint another company to supply you temporarily until you have chosen your new company. 7

8 Who takes care of electrical safety and electricity supply interruption? Tai Tarian is responsible for dealing with faults and emergencies inside the property. For these and other electricity repair enquiries telephone our repairs hotline on Your supplier will give you a 24 hour emergency number which you should phone without delay if you think there is a safety problem with your meter, electricity cables, or other equipment leading to your home. If you think there may be a power failure to your home, check if your neighbours are also without electricity before reporting it. Who takes care of gas safety? Tai Tarian is responsible for dealing with gas leaks and emergencies inside the property. For these and other gas repair enquiries telephone our repairs hotline on If you smell gas outside the property, the national emergency Freephone number for help is B. G. Transco engineers will stop a gas leak free of charge. 8

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10 For more information If you want to discuss this leaflet with us please visit one of our town centre offices: Tai Tarian 23 Windsor Road Neath, SA11 1NB Opening Hours: 9am - 4pm Monday - Friday Tai Tarian 6 Forge Road Port Talbot, SA13 1NU Opening Hours: 9am - 4pm Monday - Friday Tai Tarian Pontardawe Hub Holly Street, Pontardawe, SA8 4ET Opening Hours: 9am - 4pm Tuesday/ Thursday This is only a brief summary of the main points. A number of free fact sheets are available from OFGEM which cover every area we have mentioned in more detail. You can telephone OFGEM on or write to: OFGEM, 9 Millbank, London, SA1P 3GE 10

11 My Notes 11

12 Tai Tarian, Tŷ Gwyn, Brunel Way, Baglan, Energy Park, Neath, SA11 2FP Tel: