Are you paying too much to heat and light your home? The good news is there can be savings made and The Consumer Council have just what you need to do it!
Gas and Electricity
In just five simple steps you can find out if you can save money on your electricity or gas bills using our Online Energy Price Comparison Tool. (link is external) You just need to have your most recent electricity or gas bill handy and then you are ready to go!
Our online energy price comparison tool is completely independent of any of the energy companies, and it will help you shop around and compare deals. In some cases, you may find that staying with the same supplier and just changing your tariff or payment method can help cut costs.
Don’t worry if you are not online, we can post you an electricity or gas comparison table, or you can speak to one of our team, who will help you find the best deal to suit your needs.
Switching is simple
Switching is quick and hassle free. There is no interruption to your electricity or gas supply, it will not affect your wiring, pipes or meter and the company you are switching to will manage the process.
If you are still unsure, give The Consumer Council a call on 0800 121 6022 and one of our Consumer Protection team will be happy to advise.
Home heating oil
If you use home heating oil, you can still make savings by shopping around.
The Consumer Council has a Home Heating Oil Comparison table that we update every Thursday. This gives you the average price for 300, 500 and 900 litres of oil in selected areas. You can use these figures to work out if you are being quoted a fair price, and to haggle costs with various providers.
Buying home heating oil in bulk will normally make it cheaper, but if you can’t afford to buy in bulk, look to see if there is an oil buying club or an oil stamp saving scheme in your area. Try not to rely on emergency drums as they cost considerably more. For more information contact Bryson Energy on 0800 1422 867.
Take control!
More than half our fuel bills are generated by heating rooms and hot water. Installing a room thermostat, a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves, and controlling these effectively could help you save money. If you already have these controls, turning down your room thermostat by just one degree can save you money. For other energy saving tips visit: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/home-energy-efficiency/energy-saving-quick-wins (link is external).
Take action!
Sadly loyalty doesn’t pay. Don’t be tempted to stick with the same supplier, just because you’ve always been with them. Even a few extra pound in your pocket has to be worth it, and will help drive competition in the energy market.
About The Consumer Council
The Consumer Council has a duty to promote and safeguard the interests of consumers in Northern Ireland. We have specific statutory duties in relation to energy, postal services, transport, and water and sewerage. These include considering consumer complaints and enquiries about buses, trains, planes, ferries, natural gas, electricity, coal and water.
If you have a problem you want to talk to us about, contact our Consumer Protection Team on 0800 121 6022 or email at contact@consumercouncil.org.uk
