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This snapshot, taken on 07/08/2007, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
Domestic gas and electricity supply was opened to competition during 1996-99. For the first time, customers could choose their supplier on the basis of price, quality of service and type of tariff (dual fuel, tariffs designed for pensioners, internet tariffs etc). There are no remaining supply price controls or caps, as the market is now fully competitive.
By June 2005, over 40% of customers were no longer with their former monopoly supplier (British Gas for gas and the former regional electricity companies for electricity). Customers continue to switch supplier at a rate of 300,000 per month for each fuel. OFGEM publishes regular evaluations of domestic competition. The last was published in September 2005.
Domestic customers use a variety of payment methods:
Direct debit | Quarterly cash/cheque | Prepayment | Other | |
| Electricity | 11,054,189 | 9,374,183 | 3,575,644 | 1,333,665 |
| Gas | 9,954,512 | 7,454,744 | 2,193,809 | 1,451,798 |
Note: as of September 2005. "Other" includes weekly, fortnightly or flexible payment schemes, Fuel Direct etc.
Customers can still enjoy substantial benefits from switching supplier, particularly from a former monopoly supplier. In June 2005, the differential between the former monopoly supplier and the cheapest standard tariff was £33 for electricity and £28 for gas (paying by direct debit), £28 for electricity and £60 for gas (paying by standard credit) and £39 for electricity and £53 for gas (paying by prepayment meter).
Further savings are available to customers changing to payment by direct debit. A customer switching from standard credit to direct debit could save £10-11 for electricity and £19-46 for gas; a customer switching from prepayment meter to direct debit could save £13-18 for electricity and £43-46 for gas.
Details of the tariff offers of individual suppliers, together with links to internet price comparison services are available on the Energywatch website.