To think the cost of gas & elec is getting crazy?

[Helptonight]

Trying to look at switching supplier - first of all they all bloody want you to have a smart meter but secondly there are sooo many companies out there now that I don't know where to turn! Been on Martin Lewis but my head hurts! Igloo, octopus, out fox the market... Who are these people and what's happened to the big 6? Is ok to just go with some rando now or will i get shafted... HELP!!!

Why do they also want 1 months direct debit up front?? Am i being thick or has this all got very complicated in the last few years?

I feel your pain, I need to renew soon and prices have gone right up. I do not want a smart meter so choice is a bit limited. I think I am going with Bristol Energy. No smart meter and no fee to get out of the contract. I have used them before and they were fine.

The way the green levy etc work means small companies are exempted and thus are able to offer cheaper rates until they get to a certain size and then either have to massively increase rates or go bust.

I switched to octopus this year. Didn’t need a smart meter. No fee to leave early. Competitive price. They calculate the direct debit based on your annual usage so you don’t get in a pickle over winter when usage goes up. If t ends up being too high you can adjust it. It’s easy all through your online account. You give monthly meter readings so they know your actual usage. They email to remind you and it’s so easy to input it and you get a bill which is debited from your “credit” ie your upfront monthly direct debit

I switched to octopus two months ago, so early days. No problems with the switch. One more paid up front.
They email me a meter reading request every month which I like. I did pick their month expensive "green" tariff so not really saving much compared to my previous standard EDF.

@Asdf12345 thank you for the info, it just seems like a minefield now. With all the opts and tech things seem much more difficult or maybe I am just a dinosaur

I have also heard good things about octopus