In the UK customers have the right to choose their energy supplier and, if they are not happy with their services, they can switch to a different one. Each supplier offers a range of different tariffs, so finding the best contract for your business’s needs can be challenging.
In order to find the best prices, most people resort to price comparison websites.
Do you know how they work?
The main task of price comparison is, as the name indicates, comparing the prices of various goods and services from numerous companies. If you’re looking for a new energy supplier the of course price comparison websites will look at available unit rates and fees related to energy contracts.
In theory, this should allow you to get the best deal there is.
In practice, however, finding the most competitive rates and energy contracts is not that easy. Even if you pick the deal that the price marked as the cheapest, you might find yourself overpaying for your electricity. Here you can find out why that’s the case.
What are price comparison sites?
Price comparison sites exist for all kinds of services and they are very popular in the energy market. They allow customers to get quotes from various suppliers and compare their offers on just one page. They save customers the hassle of having to visit many suppliers’ websites separately.
Some price comparison websites allow you to set filters and preferences that correspond to your individual needs as an energy customer. It normally takes between 10 to 15 minutes for a price comparison website to come up with the results of the search.
If you use several comparison sites, you might notice that each of them gives different results. That’s why it’s advisable to run a few searches and see whether there is a supplier that’s considered the most competitive by all of the price comparison websites.
Advantages and Disadvantages of price comparison sites
Using a comparison site is often the first thing people do when they’re looking for a new supplier or a new energy deal. While there are some clear advantages that come from using them, there are also several drawbacks. Have a look at the table below to find out what they are.
| advantages | disadvantages |
| Price comparison websites can help you save money by showing you the cheapest options Price comparison sites are convenient as you can access them wherever you are There are many price comparison sites you can use | Price comparison websites do not show you every supplier on the market Many price comparison websites charge feesPrice comparison websites primarily look at prices and overlook other important aspects of energy contracts Price comparison sites do not offer additional advice and expertise Price comparison websites will not guide you through the process of switching providers or changing energy contracts |
So what online comparison sites don’t tell you?
Using a price comparison site to get a general overview of what the prices are like is not a bad idea, but you should not rely on the results to make the decision. There are many additional aspects that need to be taken into consideration when choosing an energy supplier or an energy contract. These include:
- Are you better off choosing fixed or variable energy rates?
- How long should you sign the contract for?
- Does the supplier offer flexible contracts?
- Are there any exit fees?
- Does the supplier have an efficient Customer Service team that you can contact easily?
- Is the supplier environmentally friendly?
- Does the supplier charge a standing charge?
- Is the supplier trustworthy?
These things are crucial to determining whether an energy contract is competitive. Even if a price comparison website shows you the deal with the lowest rates, sometimes it might not be worth committing to it.
What should you do instead of using price comparison websites?
If you really want to make sure that you’re getting the best energy deal, you should forget about price comparison websites!
Instead, you should seek advice from an energy broker.
Do you know what energy brokers do?
Brokers assist customers with comparing energy prices and energy packages offered by various suppliers. They have a great knowledge of the energy industry and they often form partnerships with the suppliers so they help businesses get the best energy rates available. At the same time, brokers are impartial. They do not act on behalf of any supplier so you can be sure that the deals they show you are actually the best deals in the market.
In addition to helping you compare energy prices, brokers will walk you through all the different aspects of energy contracts to make sure they match the needs of your business and give you the flexibility that you need. Thanks to energy brokers, you don’t have to worry about hidden charges or getting stuck with a bad energy contract for several years. And that’s something that can happen if you only use a price comparison site!
Once you have chosen a contract, an energy broker will help you take care of the paperwork and will assist you with making the switch. This way you don’t have to worry about anything and can focus on other, more important aspects of running your business.
Reasons to use an energy broker
Are you still not convinced that using an energy broker is a good idea that can save you time, money, and effort? Have a look at the list of main reasons to use a broker.
- Unbeatable expertise – energy brokers know the energy market very well so they know what prices are currently the best. They offer expert advice that you cannot get from a price comparison website.
- Personalised experience – energy brokers help you not only find the cheapest energy contract, but also the one that is the best for your business.
- Making the choice easy – even after you run a search using a price comparison website, you might feel overwhelmed by the choice of numerous suppliers. Talking to a broker makes choosing an energy deal easier than ever!
- Making sure you get the best contract – price isn’t the only thing that makes a contract attractive. An energy broker will explain to you all the aspects of the energy deal that need to be taken into consideration and will help you pick the most competitive one.
- Help even after making the switch – even after you sign a contract with the supplier, you can reach out to your broker and ask them for help should you have any problems with the provider. Similarly, if you’re considering switching providers, a broker can help you decide whether it’s a good decision.
- Comparing numerous suppliers – brokers work with many suppliers and will show you deals from all the ones that are worth looking at.
- Negotiating energy prices – energy brokers work closely with energy suppliers so sometimes they might be able to negotiate a better price for you. Often, they can offer you energy deals that you wouldn’t find on any comparison websites.
- Helping you manage multiple sites – if you need to get energy deals for several business sites that use different services and have different energy needs, running a price comparison online for all of them can be timely. Brokers will help you move all the sites to just one supplier and get the best rates for all of them.
- Caring about the clients – seeking advice from an energy broker allows you to talk to the team in person. Energy brokers care about building relationships with their customers and they strive to provide them with the best service possible.
- The possibility to bundle all supplies – if you’re using a price comparison website to find deals for several commodities, you will need to compare contracts for electricity, water, and gas separately. Energy brokers can bundle all the supplies to find one contract that will cover them all, making paying for energy easier for you.
So should you use an energy broker instead of a price comparison website?
Yes! This guide has shown those price comparison websites do not provide enough information for customers to choose a deal that will be the best for their business.
Even the best comparison sites cannot provide you with advice as detailed as the one from an energy broker. If you only use a comparison website, you might find the cheapest energy deal, but you might soon realise that other aspects of it do not make it competitive at all!
Seeking help from an energy broker can help you avoid that and actually get the best energy contract. Here at Energy Solutions, we want to help our customers save money and time. We have over 20 years of experience in the energy industry, so whether you’re looking for gas, electricity, or water supply, you can trust us to get you the best deal.
If you want to see for yourself how useful using an energy broker can be, get in touch today by calling us on 0131 610 1688!