Product Description
Electricity has become vital to everyday life and as a result the number of electricity suppliers has doubled over the last decade or so. These companies tend to fall into one of two categories – those that supply energy from renewable sources and those that don’t. The majority of the major electricity suppliers use non-renewable sources to generate their electricity however the green energy companies are definitely becoming more popular with time.

Main Players
The big names with regards to electricity include British Gas, nPower, EON, Scottish Power, EDF and Scottish & Southern. There are a number of other regional suppliers as well that are worth considering. Green energy suppliers are less well known however the most popular include Ecotricity, Good Energy and Green Energy UK.

Pros of Electricity Suppliers

• Virtually every home in the UK requires electricity and so the range of products and providers available is very good.
• They are always in competition with each other and so it is easy to find price reductions, special offers and discounts if you look for them.
• Some of the major suppliers are starting to look at using renewable sources for their electricity and this will ultimately help to conserve the environment.

Cons of Electricity Suppliers

• Electricity prices are the highest they’ve been for a long time however the suppliers know that we all need the service and so they only reduce the prices when necessary…or when their competitors do.
• In addition to the high prices, they also know how to add charges and fees to their services.

Things to Consider when Choosing a Provider
A lot of the major electricity providers offer very similar services and price plans and so there may be other factors to take into account before making a decision. You will need to work out how much you spend on electricity throughout they year before comparing the various providers as some may offer a better deal for major consumers. The BUYability comparison engine is the ideal tool to compare the various suppliers and you should make it your next port of call.

In addition to price you will also want to consider customer service availability, additional charges that might apply to you, any discounts that are being offered and any long term savings you can make. For example, a number of the major players give annual discounts for paying by direct debit and for having paperless billing. They also tend to give a hefty discount for having both electricity and gas from them and when combined, these discounts can save you hundreds of pounds over the course of the year.

Environmentally conscious consumers might want to consider switching to a Green Energy supplier for their electricity. These companies supply energy from renewable sources and enable users to reduce their carbon footprint by up to 2 tonnes each year. Plus, they are generally no more expensive than the major suppliers and so are well worth a look.

BUYability Summary
Most of the major electricity suppliers have very similar price plans today and so it is worth doing a bit of research to find a company with good benefits and discounts as well. You should take into account anything that is important to you and decide according to the overall package. One thing to watch though is that the supplier you choose doesn’t charge a fee for switching to another supplier later on – just in case someone else releases an even better package deal.