When your energy supplier raises its prices, it can be easy for you to end up accidentally paying more than you should. However, by following the below-mentioned tips, you can avoid being charged unnecessarily and get the best services from your energy supplier:
- Read your energy meter: One of the simplest ways to avoid being overcharged by your energy supplier is to make sure that you give them absolutely no reason to estimate your energy bill. Estimating provides the suppliers with every incentive to overcharge you and even charge you in advance for the energy that you haven’t yet used. To stop estimated bill, you just need to read your meter regularly and update your supplier.
- It is a wise idea to submit at least four-meter readings over the course of a year, about one every three months. Submitting your reading varies from supplier to supplier, but most of the big suppliers let you submit your meter readings online or using smart phone apps, making it easier for you than ever.
- Do not pay increased prices or exit fees to your energy supplier: When your energy supplier raises prices, you shouldn’t have to pay a penalty for switching away from them, as the price change is effectively a change in the contract that you originally signed up to.In case your supplier tries to charge you an exit fee or says you will have to pay the higher rates until your switch goes through, then you should complain. You need to tell your supplier that you wish to leave by the date the higher prices come into effect. Also, make sure that your new energy supplier contacts your old one within 15 working days to tell them that you are switching.
- Query expensive ‘catch-up’ bills: If you have been getting estimated bills from your energy provider, you may run into trouble when you get your first metered bill after the price rises. If your estimates were too low, the new meter reading will be much higher, and you could end up paying the new, higher prices for energy that you used before the prices went up.This is known as a ‘catch-up’ bill. If your supplier has changed the prices on your tariff during the time you were receiving estimated bills, you need to contact them to make sure they properly spread the extra units over the entire billing period.
- Comparison shop: When you avoid shopping around and switching, you’ll often end up being overcharged. Energy suppliers rely to a large extent on customers who don’t search the markets for cheaper deals, even though their prices are going up. Two identical homes, using the identical amount of energy, can easily be paying very different amounts for their energy due to the supplier they are with, or the tariff or plan they are on.
For further information, you can call on Npower Contact Number and get in touch with its dedicated team.