Page last updated at 09:51 GMT, Friday, September 23 2011

Choosing a Fuel Supplier

We have all been approached by representatives from gas and electricity companies asking us if we want to switch supplier.

You might wish to switch to another supplier:

• to save money
• to buy only green electricity
• to get a better service
• to get additional services

To work out how much you will save you need to know how much gas and electricity you have used over the previous year which you can see on your bills. Savings promoted by companies are average figures, and if you use more or less than average, or use a different payment method, then these savings might not be realistic for your household.

The easiest way to find the cheapest supplier is to visit a website such as www.uswitch.com  or the Energy Shop. You can then enter details of your current energy costs and payment methods and the site will tell you if a cheaper option is available.

However, saving money is not the only consideration and you should also find out:

• how long will it take to change?
• how much of their electricity is sourced from renewable sources?
• what payment methods are available?
• will I get a discount for paying by direct debit?
• what other services are on offer e.g. discounts for insulation and boilers?
• what services are offered for older customers e.g. free gas safety checks?

Green energy

The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) has just published a new labelling scheme for 'green' electricity tariffs, called the "Green Energy Scheme"   If you would like to know more about how you can purchase your electricity from renewable sources you may wish to use this guide to switch. 

If you would like to support renewable energy you can choose a 'green' electricity tariff.  Generally you pay a small extra premium.  There are two types of tariff available:

• Renewable Tariff
• If you were to switch to a renewable energy tariff, the electricity you receive will arrive through the same cables and wires, but for every unit of electricity you use your supplier will buy a unit of electricity generated from a renewable energy source such as wind power, hydroelectricity or biomass

• Eco-Funds Tariff
• This is where the additional premium is invested in new renewable energy projects. This is in the form of a fund, usually developing community based renewable energy projects.