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Electricity & Gas Suppliers - Raman Sridhar (3rd Nov 2006 - 21:54:21) Southern Electric is my power supply provider.My gas supplier British Gas is offerring discounts for switching over my electric supply to them. Do we really benefit from such deals. I need some advice.

Re: Electricity & Gas Suppliers - Dick (4th Nov 2006 - 19:03:35) My supplier for both utilities was British Gas. I then went online to the "Uswitch" site and changed mine to Southern Electric for both, saving £300 per year.... Result.

Re: Electricity & Gas Suppliers - Mike Grimes (5th Nov 2006 - 00:33:44) When the Gas and Electricity companies were privatised there were rules that effectively meant that that your current suppliers (British Gas aka the Gas Board for gas and your local Electrcity company aka Local Electricity Board for electricty) were not allowed to compete financially in their captive area. This meant that British Gas (a previously monopoly supplier) was never the cheapest gas supplier anywhere and every one else was able to undercut it. But BG was able to undercut everyone else with Electricity in their own areas. Of course, all the newly privatised electricity companies were now no longer competetive in their own area but may well be in another area and as they now also sold gas, they were invariably cheaper than British Gas. A general rule is that if you are buying gas from British Gas and electricity from what used to be your local electricty company you would find it very difficult to find a worse deal with anyone. Another general rule is that if any company knocks on your door and persuades you that their energy is cheaper there is almost certainly another company that is cheaper still. It really is worth investing a few moments on U-Switch but be aware that if you are currently on any kind of capped deal the comparisons are unlikely to be accurate (until it runs out). Cheaper power to the people!

Re: Electricity & Gas Suppliers - Chris (5th Nov 2006 - 04:44:35) I did the same with nPower and managed quite asubstantial saving. It's worth a try especially as all you've got to do is provide a meter reading and they do the rest.

Re: Electricity & Gas Suppliers - Raman (6th Nov 2006 - 20:32:25) Dear All Thanks for your opinions. I will evaluate the options using the sites mentioned.

Re: Electricity & Gas Suppliers - Allan (9th Nov 2006 - 01:52:00) Raman, Dealt with a power "broker" couple of years ago. Was told that they could source a far better deal for me and save me a considerable amount on my electricity bill. Spot on right, they were. Told me that it would cost me nothing as they would receive their commision from the new supplying co. and they would organise it on my behalf. Well, not quite true. Firstly, the supplying co. they recommended, when approached direct, would have supplied me at .5p less per unit than the price offered by the brokers! So, perhaps that was the brokers comm. I'm not moaning about it too much because it did save me money initially (and they have to make a living), BUT, there is nothing in the contract to stop the supplying co. putting their prices up soon into the agreement. Moral of the tale is; shop around direct, not thru brokerages and you will do better. Alla.

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