This page will assist in finding answers to questions you have about switching suppliers. It also provides information about items on this site.

We do the comparison calculations for you for free, and we simply request that you use the links on our website if you decide to switch suppliers.

Date of last update 1st Sept 2005.

FAQ's about A1 Power

Who is A1 Power?
A1 Power Service Standards
A1 Power charges
A1 Power website security

FAQ's about Suppliers and Tariffs

Tariffs used in Databases
Tariff Details - In pop up box for each supplier
Late Payment Penalty Charges
British Gas Discounts
VAT
Supplier Service
Non cash incentives for signing up with new suppliers

FAQ's about Meters and Numbers

What does the Electricity MPAN or Supply Number mean?
How can I tell what Region my meter is in?
How can I find out who supplies the gas and electricity to my home?
How can I find out what my meter numbers are?
Equipment maintenance contracts.
PRIVATE GAS PIPELINES

FAQ's about the Gas and Electricity Industry

What happened in the Gas and Electricity Markets?
Who is OFGEM?
Who is Energywatch?
Energy Efficiency

FAQ's about Changing Supplier

Why change?
Is it easy to change?
How do I change suppliers?
What information do I need to change?
Do I need to tell my existing supplier?
Transfers to your new supplier
Just moved in to new property

What happened in the Gas and Electricity Markets?

In May 1998 the Government brought in new regulations to fully open the Gas market to competition. In May 1999, the same happened for Electricity. Since then people can change suppliers if they want to, and over 7 million people have switched in gas and over 7 million in electricity supply according to Ofgem.

Since then, companies have been jostling for market share, and new companies have joined in to offer services are lower costs. In general, the market competition has created opportunities for people to save money on gas and electricity bills.

One difficulty that people face is the complications of collecting each suppliers tariff data and making precise comparisons between the different pricing structures. This is where the A1 Power Price Comparison Service helps. We do all the work to collect the data, and we have developed the website calculator to make it easy for customers to make straightforward comparisons between suppliers prices.

We are funded by referral fees when you switch suppliers, so please use the links available on this site.

Who is A1 Power?

A1 Power Ltd is an independent private limited company that has been set up by an accountant and web designer to make it easy for people to compare gas, electricity and dual fuel prices between suppliers, and to make this information freely available to you, the consumer and our valued customer.

We gather all the data from all suppliers and other sources and we have developed the calculator to make it easy to extract the figures relevant to your needs and to show comparisons between all suppliers in order of best cost. Basically, we do all the hard work of collecting the details and doing the calculations, so it's easy for you to see the real comparisons between suppliers prices.

We have also made this service as quick and easy as possible to enter your details and to get your results. Data entry is on one page, and all the results are on the next page. Full tariff details are available by clicking on the cost result for each supplier.

We earn our income from a small referral fee if you switch to a new supplier using the links on our website. This is paid by the new supplier, it does not affect the price you pay, and this comparison service is provided to you for free.

We provide this service for free and we simply request that you use the links on our website if you decide to switch to a different supplier. We thank all customers who do this.

If you are committed to another organisation for switching, then we fully understand this, and you may also like to ask them to do their comparison calculations for you as well.

We encourage and welcome your feedback which all helps to identify areas for improvement.

Thank you for using our services. We hope you have found some good savings and information on this site.

The A1 Power Team.

Who is OFGEM?
Ofgem is the OFfice of Gas and Electricity Markets, which was formed in June 1999. It promotes competition in the gas and electricity markets to ensure the consumers get genuine value and choice.

We highly recommend a visit to the Ofgem website which is full of interesting information about the UK Gas and Electricity markets.

Link to Ofgem website

Link

Who is ENERGYWATCH?
Energywatch is the independent consumer organisation created by Parliament to protect the interests of gas and electricity consumers. Energywatch is a good place to go for detailed information, or if you need help.

Energywatch us dedicated to Winning a Better Deal for Consumers, and A1 Power is dedicated to helping with their objectives. The Energywatch goals include Making Competition work for all consumers and the A1 Power price comparison services makes it easy to obtain accurate and independent price comparison information.

The Energywatch website contains a wealth of information helpful to the consumer. Their site is well worth a visit.

Link to Energywatch

Link

Why would I want to change Supplier?
As with anything else you buy, there are choices on prices available. By looking around you may be able to save money buying you Electricity and/or Gas from another Supplier.

Is it easy to change?

Changing suppliers is easy to do. There are over 20 different suppliers to select from. In choosing a new supplier you need to check the price comparisons and this is where the A1 Power Saving Calculators can help.

The A1 Power Service Standards

We welcome feedback and suggestions on how to improve our service and will consider all suggestions carefully. We aim for high standards of customer service and will respond to any complaints or enquiries within 2 working days. Complaints will be handled quickly, effectively, fairly, and confidentially. In case of disputes, we will keep you informed about progress. In the event of a complaint or difficulty, please use our contact form to contact A1 Power via e-mail. Alternatively, please use our contact details below.

How do I change suppliers?

1. First, carry out a price comparison to see how your existing tariff compares. Use the A1 Power Price Comparison Service by entering your postcode, existing suppliers, and amounts paid, to obtain a complete list of prices available in your region.

2. Review the list and see how your existing suppliers compare with the others.

3. If you are still with your original separate suppliers you may find that you can save by switching to dual fuel with either one of them. You may be able to save more by switching to a another supplier.

4. When you are ready to switch, use the links from the comparison results pages, or the links listed on the Suppliers page.

At this stage you may need to have your existing meter identification numbers available - MPAN for electricity, and MPR for gas. (See FAQ about Meter Numbers). These numbers need to be exact and accurate.

5. When you arrive at the application form, complete all information requested and submit the form.

The application forms which are linked to the results pages can, in most cases, automatically validate your address and gas and electricity meter numbers. On occasion it will request that you manual enter the required information.

The suppliers application forms that are listed on the Suppliers page will require full name, address and meter reference numbers to be entered manually.

6. Contact your existing suppliers by telephone or letter to let them know you have activated a transfer.

7. Wait until you receive communications from the new supplier and the existing supplier, with further instructions. At some stage you will be asked to provide meter readings which will be used by both suppliers to prepare final and opening bills.

A1 Power Charges

Please note that, our service to you is free of charge. We do not actually collect any payments through our web site, nor do we enter into any direct contracts for the supply of electricity or gas. These items are handled directly with your new supplier who will provide you with details of direct contacts.

Some, but not all, suppliers pay a referral fee to A1 Power for new customers. This does not affect the presentation of results in any way as we show results with complete impartiality as required by the Energywatch code of practice. See suppliers marked with an * on the Suppliers List.

Transfers to your new supplier.

Delivery of new services will be advised directly by your new supplier. Your new supplier will provide full details as well as their own Terms and Conditions which you should read carefully.

Do I need to tell my existing supplier?

The official answer to this is Yes. However, in practice, the new transfer applications go through a process which includes checking with the existing supplier if there are any objections to the change. This is usually sufficient to act as notice that a change is being requested and arranged. It is best to telephone or write to the existing supplier and let them know.

Once you have told the new supplier, you should find they are completely understanding but they may ask why you would like to move, so they have a reason on file. Domestic prices are usually fixed so there is very rarely any room for changes to advertised tariffs.

You should receive correspondence from the existing supplier asking that you consider them again in the future, and you will also receive a welcome letter from the new supplier, once the transfer has been activated.

Generally speaking, the entire transfer process has been designed to operate as smoothly as possible and both Ofgem and Energywatch keep an eye on the marketplace to ensure this happens.

A1 Power Website Security.

This site is "Secure" but we do not collect any financial information, even though is is "secure" for such purposes.

Financial details are supplied by you directly to your new supplier and not to A1 Power. New suppliers will send you direct debit forms in the post for your completion and return.

Some suppliers do have secure application sites where they will request financial details under their Terms and Conditions.

Site security on the A1 Power website is handled by our IT Manager itmanager@A1power.co.uk.

Tariffs Used in Databases.
All tariffs we use are current tariffs. We assume that you are on a current tariff and not a historic tariff no longer available from the supplier. Please bear in mind that this may impact upon the calculations given.

We rely on receiving price updates from all suppliers as soon as they are available. We appreciate their assistance with keeping our database up to date. In the event that price changes have escaped our attention, we aim to make corrections within 24 hours of notification. All prices on the A1 Power databases have been updated to 1st Sept 2005. .

Late Payment Penalty Charges
- Some suppliers will charge extra penalty charges for late payments. These extra penalty charges are not included in these price comparisons.
- Some suppliers will charge for cheque payments. Where this applies, an extra charge is included in the prices and this is noted in the suppliers information box.
- the calculations on this website assume that customers are taking advantage of the best options available, and that no extra charges are included for late payments or payments by means which cause surcharges.

British Gas Discounts
These calculators assume that you are taking advantage of the British Gas discounts for prompt payment on standard credit accounts.

Some websites include this prompt payment discount (on credit accounts) as extra savings. We take the view that if you are already saving this money then you cannot save it again, so we do not include this in the savings shown on the results table.

Energy Efficiency
Customers are urged to consider ways of saving energy. There are various ways of doing this and many details can be found on the Energy savings Trust website.

To view their site, click the link.

Link

Supplier Service
One important factor to bear in mind is the levels of supplier service and customer satisfaction. A1 Power, Ofgem and Energywatch, are all keen to promote the needs for high standards of customer service. Energywatch provides a report which shows results of surveys.

To view their site, click the link.

Link

Non cash incentives for signing up with new suppliers
Some suppliers offer non cash incentives for signing up. These are not included in these price comparisons.

How can I find out who supplies the gas and electricity to my home?

GAS SUPPLY - Call the Transco Meter Helpline on 0870 608 1524. They will tell you the supplier and give you your MPRN number.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY - Call your local electricity distribution company. You should ask for their Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS). If you are not sure who the company is, contact Energywatch. Energywatch Head Office telephone 0845 9060708 and offices throughout the UK.

How can I find out what my meter numbers are?

Note: A new validation system has been installed so that, in most cases, your address and meter reference numbers are automatically validated by using your postcode. If the validation system does not find your meter reference numbers, then the following information will help you locate them.

If you have previous bills - see the next FAQ after this one.

If you do not have previous bills, read on:

Electricity:
Where to get your "MPAN" or "Supply Number" if you do not have a bill.

If you do not have a previous bill, you can get this by contacting your regional electricity company (who may well be different from your current supplier, but they are still responsible for “transporting” your electricity). If you call them and ask for the Metering Point Administration department, they will tell you what your Supply Number is. You will need to obtain the local suppliers telephone number either from the local telephone directory or from directory enquiries.

If you do not know who the local supplier is, you can contact Energywatch on 0845 601 3131 and ask who the local supplier is so you can find your MPAN Number. They will give you the local supplier telephone number to call. When you call that number, ask for the Full MPAN Number including the top row and bottom row numbers, but sometimes they only give the bottom row numbers (13 digits) which will be sufficient.

Gas:
Where to get your MPR meter Number if you do not have a previous bill?

If you do not have a bill and you require your M Number you can call the TRANSCO M Number Enquiries telephone number which is 0870 6081524. They are very helpful and will provide your MPR number when you give your address and postcode. The M Number is also called the MPR number

What does the Electricity MPAN or Supply Number mean?
MPAN stands for Metering Point Administration Number. This number is located on your electricity bill (and not on the meter). It provides a unique identity reference number for the meter and provides other information as follows:

How can I tell what Region my meter is in?
If you look at the grid above, you can see the first box on the second line is called "Distributor Identifier". The numbers in this box identify the Region you are in as follows:

Note that when your postcode is on the edge of a region, it is important to check that you are using the correct region for the comparison calculations as the prices vary from region to region and some postcode areas straddle regions.

British/Scottish Gas Price changes from 7th March 2003

British and Scottish Gas Prices changed on 7th March 2003.

For a short period of time, we are including the old prices and new prices as options. This is because bills for the period before this date are based on the old prices.

There is also a high usage rate for gas over 293,000 kWh. This rate is NOT shown on these calculators. Over 293,076 the rate is 1.468 for monthly direct debit, 1.550 for quarterly payments, 1.578 for prepayments, and 1.481 for advanced payments.

Private Gas Pipelines.

Some gas is supplied via private pipelines not maintained by Transco. These are often identified by the gas MPR reference number if it begins with 74. Supply prices for private gas pipelines may be higher than thos shown on this website.

Just moved in to a new property?

TO SEE WHICH SUPPLIERS MAY HAVE THE BEST PRICES:

To use the calculators, you need an estimated cost of current usage and the name of the current suppliers. This can be difficult if you have not lived there before. Previous bills can help, otherwise you could use estimates. An example might be - a 3 bedroom semi-detached house with 3 adults could cost about £450 a year on gas and £450 a year on electricity. It depends on the size of the house, the type of equipment being used, and the number of people.

If you don't know the current suppliers, you can use British Gas for gas, and the regional electricity supplier for electricity. By doing this, you will be able to get to the list of suppliers prices.

Once you have this, the A1 Power website will help you identify the best priced supplier in your area. You just enter the region you are in, the current supplier, payment method, and annual consumption, and you get a full supplier listing showing comparisons. Tariff details can be seen by clicking on the cost figure for each supplier.

TO SWITCH:

To make an actual switch to another supplier, you may need the meter numbers from the last gas and electricity bills. These are the numbers on the last bills, and not the numbers from the meters. If you have moved into a new house, have you had any bills yet? You need to get a hold of the details, either by asking for a copy of the last gas and electricity bills, or by phoning up, and asking for the supplier and meter numbers.

You may be able to do the switch by entering your postcode and house details, followed by your name, and other information required for your household.

If you don't have previous bills, and you need your reference numbers, the telephone numbers to call to get this information are:

GAS SUPPLY - Call the Transco Meter Helpline on 0870 608 1524. Tell them your address and they tell you the supplier and give you your MPRN number. Make a note of these.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY - Call your local electricity distribution company. You should ask for their Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS). If you are not sure who the company is, contact Energywatch. Energywatch Head Office telephone 0207 799 8340 and offices throughout the UK . Then call and get the Electricity Supply Number.

Once you know the existing suppliers and you have the correct meter numbers, then you can go back to the A1 Power website to switch to the selected supplier.