Half of Big Six customers considering switching

Research shows nearly a third of British Gas customers planning on leaving in the next six months

Half of all Big Six customers are thinking about switching supplier, according to a new survey.

The survey by Opinium research, which was commissioned by renewable energy supplier Pure Planet, shows 50 per cent of customers on a Big Six tariff said they were planning to switch as the government moves to cap energy price increases.

Nearly a third (29 per cent) of British Gas customers surveyed said they were planning on leaving the supplier within the next six months, following its decision to increase prices earlier this autumn.

More than half (54 per cent) of those surveyed who were with Scottish Power said they were considering switching, along with 53 per cent of EDF customers.

The report also showed that saving money (83 per cent), better customer service (26 per cent) and being environmentally friendly (21 per cent) were the three biggest reasons for changing supplier.

However, nearly three out of 10 (28 per cent) said they would be put off switching because they are worried about the hidden costs, a fifth (22 per cent) said it was too complicated and 15 per cent said they could not be bothered.

And one in 10 people surveyed said they had not even read their bill in the last year, while three quarters (74 per cent) receive their bills online and just 21 per cent receive theirs in the post.

The co-founder of Pure Planet, Steven Day said the survey results show customers are moving towards “independent, clean energy companies”.

“What is starting and what will continue to happen is a real shift away from the big polluting energy companies into independent firms offering cheaper rates, 100 per cent renewable energy and a better service,” said Day.

“What we currently have is an unfair system,” he added. “We would like to see a situation where people are free to leave their energy company any time they like.”