Consumers 'learn to switch utility supplier'
Published On 29 June 2007
Consumers in the UK are beginning to realise that they can make substantial savings by switch utility supplier, a new report suggests.Research from uSwitch.com shows that 13 million households in the country have switched utility supplier - collectively making savings of £1.7 billion.
Indeed, 51 per cent of households say that they have changed their utility supplier at least once. However, the consumer website found that if these customers were to switch supplier again, they could save a further £1 billion.
While most people (58 per cent) change their utility supplier to take advantage of a cheaper deal, a significant number (nine per cent) said that switched because of poor customer service with their utility provider.
"Consumers are warming up, wising up and starting to win the energy switching game," commented Ann Robinson, the consumer policy director at uSwitch.com.
"It's almost ten years since we started to have a choice as to who our energy suppliers are and this study is a timely reminder of what we can achieve if we shop around for energy deals in the same way as we would a holiday or a mobile phone.
"Switching works and it works well - consumers can save themselves money and keep the energy companies on their toes."
The European Union recently rolled out new rules which could make utilities even cheaper in the UK.
