Product Description
There are numerous utility companies in the UK and the vast majority of them supply both gas and electricity to domestic homes. Over 90% of UK homes require gas and electricity and the constant price war between the utility companies means that the consumer has a great range of products to choose from. Recently, a variety of green energy suppliers have also become more popular and they are also worth considering as your gas and electricity provider.

Main Players
The main suppliers of gas and electricity include British Gas, Scottish Power, Centrica, nPower, Eon, EDF Energy and Scottish & Southern. Some of these suppliers aren’t available in all regions and so the choice you have will depend to some extent on where you live. In addition there are a number of green energy providers available as well and the top names here include Good Energy, Green Energy UK and Ecotricity.

Pros of Gas & Electricity Suppliers

• The top names are always in competition with each other and so a bit of research can often find you a great deal.
• The range of suppliers means you can always find a price plan that’s suitable for your gas and electricity needs.
• They often offer discounts for choosing payment by direct debit and opting for paperless billing.
• If you choose to have gas and electricity from the same company there is another discount applied.

Cons of Gas & Electricity Suppliers

• These companies know that the vast majority of the UK need gas and electricity and that we have no choice but to pay their prices.
• Some suppliers charge considerable fees for switching before the end of your annual contract.

Things to Consider when Choosing a Provider
The most important thing to consider in today’s economic climate is price and the cheaper the tariff the better. Make sure that the tariff you choose is the best for your usage though as some only start to become cheaper after you have used so much per day, week or month. It is also worth looking at the discount that’s on offer for having both gas and electricity from the same supplier. Some companies offer a 10% discount to duel fuel customers and this alone can save you hundreds of pounds annually. Other discounts to look for include the direct debit payment discount and the one that applies for choosing to have your bills delivered online.

You should also look at the charges that may apply to you. If you like to switch utility suppliers quite regularly then you need to choose a provider that doesn’t charge for the privilege. You should also look at late payment charges if you think these may apply and how easy it is to get in contact with customer services should you ever need them.

BUYability Summary
Most of the big gas and electricity suppliers are very similar in terms of their price plans however they tend to offer different discounts, promotions and special offers as an incentive to choose them. These are worth looking at. For something a bit different however you might want to look at the green energy suppliers as they cost about the same but help the environment at the same time.