1. What type of energy your bill includes
In this example, the bill payer has both an electricity and gas (dual fuel) bill. Electricity is in pink and gas is in blue.
Taking some time to read you gas and electricity bill could help save you money. So, before you consign your npower energy statement to the bottom drawer, take a look at our guide to understanding your energy bill.
In our interactive bill tool, we’ll show you how to understand your npower bill and point out where to find the most useful information, including whether you’re in credit or debit, how much energy you’re using and how much your monthly payments are.
When it comes to switching energy suppliers, all the information you need is right there on your bill. This includes:
Our guide below shows you where to find the information you need to switch suppliers.
In this example, the bill payer has both an electricity and gas (dual fuel) bill. Electricity is in pink and gas is in blue.
In this case, it’s npower.
In this example, the tariff name is ‘Price Fix August 2018 Elec DD/Gas DD’.
When using our energy supplier comparison tool, you’ll find your tariff from our drop-down list. If you can’t find the exact name, then pick one that’s closest to your current tariff.
This isn’t always obvious on your bill at first. If you do have an Economy 7 meter, your electricity bill will usually be divided into two sections - one for day usage and one for night usage.
In this example, the bill payer doesn’t have an Economy 7 meter.
Another way to see if you have an Economy 7 meter is by looking at the electricity supply number on your bill. Typically, it will have 02 in the second box.
In this example, the box has 01, so it isn’t an Economy 7 meter.
We’ll need to know your chosen payment method: via direct debit, payment when you receive your bill, or payment meter.
In this example, the payment method is monthly Direct Debit.
This section shows your estimated usage over the next 12 months.
This shows when your current tariff is due to end. Ofgem’s Fairer Treatment Standards now prevents energy suppliers charging an exit fee if you have fewer than 49 days until the end of your fixed term tariff.
If you decide to switch more than 49 days before your tariff is due to end, you may be charged an early cancellation exit fee. In this case, there is no exit fee.
Finally, in order to switch you’ll need to pay off any remaining balance from your bill. But don’t worry, you can pay this once you’ve switched.
Part of the switch process involves a meter reading on the day of the switch. If you’re in debit you’ll be sent a final bill from your old supplier. If you’re in credit you should receive a refund for the remaining amount owed to you.
In this case, the bill payer is in debit and still owes £245.23.
As energy bills go, npower has tried to keep its statements as clear and easy to understand as possible. The information on the npower bill gives customers greater visibility and a clear breakdown of tariffs, usage and cost, which helps them make an informed decision when it comes to switching. It's just the amount of information available that makes it seem complex.
As well as supplying energy to your home, npower also has other direct costs to consider, such as VAT, government environmental programmes, wholesale costs and profit and loss.
There are various ways to help cut down your energy usage. Even the smallest changes can have a direct impact on your energy costs and carbon footprint, such as:
Check out our energy-saving tips for more advice on energy efficiency in the home.
Ultimately, it’s up to you, but if there are savings to be made, it’s definitely worth considering. npower is bound by Ofgem rules to tell customers about their own cheaper tariffs. But who’s to say you won’t find a better deal elsewhere? It's worth comparing to see which are the cheapest available tariffs on the market. But if you'll have to pay an exit penalty, just make sure that any savings will be worth it.
To help you, we take exit fees (where we know them) into account when calculating savings. You can also switch to a cheaper tariff with the same supplier online.
And switching doesn’t just have to be about money. It could also be about getting a better customer service or choosing a supplier that actively sources renewable energy.
If you do switch, remember you’ll have the backing of the Energy Switch Guarantee which is a promise that changing supplier will be swift and painless. Some changeovers happen in just 17 days.
You'll easily be able to see if you can save money on your power bills by finding a cheaper tariff. It's easy to shop around and compare energy suppliers. Having a bill at hand makes getting an accurate quote really simple, so you can get a clear idea of how much you could potentially save.
Our step-by-step process couldn’t be simpler. And for extra peace of mind you’ll have the backing of the Energy Switch Guarantee which is a promise that changing supplier will be swift and painless. Some changeovers happen in just 17 days.
By using our comparison service, you could save up to £210** on your annual energy bill.
**Where a saving can be achieved 50% of people could achieve a saving of £210 on their dual fuel energy costs based on Compare the Market data in August 2019.
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