Household Bills
Green utilities not a priority
UK consumers are not following through on their green credentials when it comes to choosing an energy supplier, according to SimplySwitch.
Research from SimplySwitch, a price comparison and switching service, shows two thirds of Britons claim being green is important, but only 16 per cent would consider switching to a green energy tariff. Price remains the biggest reason for switching suppliers, with customer service in second place. Energy companies are keen to attract new customers at this time of year, according to SimplySwitch founder Karen Darby, as people begin to turn up their heating in the cold weather.
“This time of year is very important for energy suppliers because, as customers’ minds turn to the cost of heating, many people shop around for a better deal,” Darby explained. “Because of this, British Gas, Scottish Power and Powergen have all introduced competitive new tariffs during the last couple of months. Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) today became the latest supplier to unveil a new deal. However, unlike the other new offerings, SSE’s latest product ‘Better Plan’, doesn’t aim to compete in terms of price.”
SSE has pledged to match Better Plan customers’ electricity consumption with power from its hydro-electric plant.
