Gas and electricity

We want to make moving your energy to Age UK Energy as easy as possible.

So, once you’ve contacted us, you don’t need to do anything except give us a current meter reading. E.ON will keep you informed throughout the process.

• Step 1: Within two weeks, you’ll receive your welcome pack.
• Step 2: Your existing supplier will be contacted to inform them about the switch. E.ON will then write to you to request a current meter reading a few days before the transfer is complete.
• Step 3: E.ON will write to you to confirm that your transfer is complete. The whole process will take around 4-6 weeks.

Notes

Age UK Group comprises of the Charity and its group companies and works with national partners (Age Cymru‚ Age Scotland & Age NI) and local partners (local Age UK/Age Concern charities).

Age UK Energy is a tailor made gas and electricity package developed and provided by E.ON. Energy Solutions Limited. Age UK Energy is a trading name of Age UK Enterprises Limited (a trading company of Age UK‚ which donates net profits to that charity). Age UK is a registered trademark. The use of the name and logo Age UK is done so under licence agreement between Age UK and Age UK Enterprises Limited. Age UK Enterprises Limited is registered in England and Wales No. 3156159. Registered Office: Tavis House 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA.

E.ON Energy Solutions Limited. Registered office: Westwood Way, Westwood Business Park‚ Coventry CV4 8LG. Registered in England and Wales No. 3407430.

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Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about
Age UK Energy.

Q. How much will it cost me to change?

A. Nothing. It's totally free.

Q. If I want to change suppliers before the one year term is up, will I be charged for leaving?

A. No. There are no tie-ins or cancellation fees whatsoever. You will not be charged a penalty if you wish to leave before the end of your fixed term contract. You are free to leave anytime, as long as your account is not in debt

Q. Do I have to change both my gas and my electricity?

A. You can change both your gas and electricity, or just your electricity if you do not have mains gas.

Q. Who reads my meters?

A. Your meter will be read either by an E.ON meter reader, or a reader from one of E.ON's appointed agencies.

Q. Is my electricity the same?

A. Yes. You’ll receive the same electricity as you do now through the same cables and meter you already have.

Q. Is my gas the same?

A. Yes. You’ll receive the same gas through the same pipes, and you’ll keep the same meter.

Q. What is the Age UK guaranteed winter payment?

A. Provided you are on supply on 1st January each year, you will receive a guaranteed winter payment of £10 to help with heating costs. This rises to £20 if you are aged 80 and over. All figures quoted are ex VAT.

Q. How is the payment made?

A. E.ON will automatically credit the winter payment to your account between January and March each year.

Q. How do I get in touch with customer services?

A. Once you have become a customer you can access our customer services number. It will be answered by a team of people based in the UK, dedicated to helping and advising Age UK Energy customers. The helpline is answered by a person and not a machine. It will provide you with help and advice on any issue to do with your energy supply.

Q. What is the energy efficiency advice service?

A. You can get specific advice on how to reduce your gas and electricity bills by using your energy more efficiently. You can also run a free** energy efficiency home survey, over the phone and visit eonenergyfit.com/ageuk

Q. How do I pay my bill?

A. You can choose from:

• One bill - get your electricity and gas on one bill and pay for both together
• Fixed monthly or quarterly Direct Debit
• Making regular payments weekly, fortnightly or monthly
• Pay at any Post Office, payzone or paypoint

Notes

Age UK Energy is a tailor made gas and electricity package provided by E.ON Energy Solutions Limited.

**Local call rates apply

Age UK Group comprises of the Charity and its group companies and works with national partners (Age Cymru‚ Age Scotland & Age NI) and local partners (local Age UK/Age Concern charities).

Age UK Energy is a trading name of Age UK Enterprises Limited (a trading company of Age UK‚ which donates net profits to that charity). Age UK is a registered trademark. The use of the name and logo Age UK is done so under licence agreement between Age UK and Age UK Enterprises Limited. Age UK Enterprises Limited is registered in England and Wales No. 3156159. Registered Office: Tavis House 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA.

E.ON Energy Solutions Limited. Registered office: Westwood Way, Westwood Business Park‚ Coventry CV4 8LG. Registered in England and Wales No. 3407430.

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A home without insulation can lose around 26% of its heat through the roof and 33% through its walls. (Source: Energy Saving Trust).

If you insulate your home, less heat will escape, your home will be warmer and you will need to use less energy. This could save you money and also reduce your carbon dioxide emissions which has less impact on the environment.

Free loft and wall insulation

Loft and cavity wall insulation are both FREE, if you are 70 and over, own (or privately rent) your property and receive a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit or Child Tax Credit (where the relevant income is £16,190 or less).

If you don't qualify for free insulation, you can purchase as follows:

• Loft insulation - up to £199
• Cavity wall insulation - £149

Even if you already have loft insulation, you could benefit as the recommended depth increased to 270mm (approx 11 inches) in 2005.

Find out if you are eligible and register your interest here 

Save up to £390*
Taking only a few hours to install, home insulation could save you up to £390 a year on your energy bills.

And remember, these savings aren't just a one off. You could continue to save year after year.

In the examples above, we've used a typical three-bed semi which has at least 50mm of loft insulation already installed. Some homes will have less or more than this, so we've reflected this in the potential savings. We're assuming it has a boiler that's around 10 years old, and that the gas unit rate is around 3.73p/kWh (including VAT). Individual savings depend on a large number of factors and these savings should be treated as a guide. Also, experience tells us that many customers like to have a warmer, more comfortable home and this reduces the potential savings shown above.

*The £390 saving over a one year period is made up from increasing your loft insulation from 50mm (about 2 inches) to between 250mm and 270mm (about 10 - 11 inches) and installing cavity wall insulation. The costs saving is approximate, is provided for illustrative purposes only and is based on a 1940s gas heated semi-detached house with three bedrooms. Savings assume a gas price of 3.73p/kWh using a 10 year old gas boiler. Your individual savings will vary according to the type and age of your house, the type and age of your boiler, the fuels you use in your home and whether or not you choose to take increased warmth following the installation of insulation measures. Prices correct at the time of publishing. This offer may be withdrawn at any time.

Age UK Group comprises of the Charity and its group companies and works with national partners (Age Cymru‚ Age Scotland & Age NI) and local partners (local Age UK/Age Concern charities).

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Here are some helpful tips from E.ON that could help you use less energy and cut your bills. If you switch to the Age UK Energy tariff, you can get a free energy monitor to show you new ways to save electricity.*

In this section:

• How to run your dishwasher and washing machine using less energy
• Chill the bill – run your fridge and freezer more efficiently
• Turn it off – get cheaper electricity bills
• Cover up and insulate – make your home draught free and warmer
• Boiler troubles?
• Nice and warm without the cost – how to spend less on hot water and heating
• What’s cooking? – cook for less
• Heating help - how to run your heating system more efficiently

  Download 100 ways to help you save energy (PDF 1.94MB)

How to run your dishwasher and washing machine using less energy

• Look for ‘A’ ratings when you need to buy a new appliance – most modern appliances have an ‘A’ rating when they are energy efficient
• Don't run your dishwasher unless it's full, to avoid wasting energy and to save money on electricity
• Switch to cold washing - 85 to 90% of the energy used to wash your clothes is used to heat the water. By turning the dial to cold on your washing machine, you save energy and save money
• Try and dry your clothes outside – this will save you energy and money compared to using your tumble dryer
• Wring clothes by hand or spin them in your washing machine before you put them in the tumble dryer if you have to use it – this will shorten the drying time required
• Avoid over drying your clothes in the tumble dryer – it wastes money and makes them harder to iron
• Don’t dry clothes on the radiator – it makes your boiler work harder
• If you don’t have a full load of washing, use the half load setting as it will save water, money on electricity and energy
• Descale your washing machine – it will keep it working efficiently
• Washing at 30°C saves energy and money compared to washing at 40°C
• Use economy settings if your dishwasher or washing machine has them, as they are cheaper to run on these settings

Chill the bill – run your fridge and freezer more efficiently

• Let it breathe - leave some space around the fridge to allow good air circulation. Bad circulation could increase its electricity consumption by up to 10%
• Buy the right size fridge or freezer for your home - this could save you money on electricity costs
• Keep the back of your fridge and freezer clean as it will help keep it running efficiently
• Don’t overfill your fridge – cold air needs to circulate as it works harder to do this, when it’s full
• Try to keep your freezer at least three quarters full – the less empty space inside, the more efficiently your freezer can work
• Make sure the door fits tightly on your fridge or freezer and that the rubber sill is not worn. If not, your appliance will work harder and cost you more to run
• Keep fridges and freezers away from cookers, heaters and direct sunlight. If they need to be close together leave a good gap
• Defrost your freezer regularly if it does not do it automatically. Letting more than 6mm or ¼ of an inch of ice build up, makes your freezer work inefficiently
• Buy a fridge thermometer if your fridge does not already have one, and set it to the optimum temperature of 0˚C - 5˚C.
• Let hot food cool before putting it in the fridge - otherwise the temperature will rise inside putting other food at risk and making your fridge work harder
• Don't leave the fridge door open any longer than necessary, as it allows the cold air to escape

Turn it off – get cheaper electricity bills

• Use a fluorescent tube light in the kitchen – they give long lasting light and have low running costs
• Switch lights off when you leave a room –you’re wasting energy by leaving them on when you don’t need them
• Fit outside lights with a sensor - so they will only be on when you need them
• Try to use the right low energy wattage bulbs– they will give you a good light and cost you less to use
• Don’t leave televisions, DVD players or computers on standby. It’s wasting your energy and money
• Don’t leave things charging unnecessarily -electric toothbrushes, battery chargers and mobile phones should be turned off when fully charged
• Use solar powered lights for your garden -they use no mains electricity which will save you energy and money
• Invest in energy saving stand by plugs which automatically turn off TV’s, computers and laptops
• Use low energy light bulbs - they last up to 10 times longer and cost about 80% less to run than standard bulbs

Cover up and insulate – make your home draught free and warmer

Get an expert in to examine your home and advise where your insulation could improve.

• Wrap around cold water pipes with insulation and over the tank in your loft - don't insulate under the tank as this allows warm air rising from the rooms below to circulate and help prevent freezing
• Put draught excluders around the loft hatch to reduce the amount of heat escaping into the loft
• Insulate the back of the loft hatch with a securely fastened piece of insulation material -this will reduce the amount of heat escaping
• Spray insulation foam around areas where pipes enter your home to stop draughts – but make sure you don't block vents and wear a mask while you spray
• Have cavity wall insulation installed if your walls are suitable and you don’t already have it – it will reduce your homes heat loss
• Always use underlay with carpets to stop heat escaping through floors
• Seal draughts between floorboards, skirting boards and behind bath panels – very effective for keeping warm
• Consider double glazing  - it will pay for itself over time
• Alternatively, install internal secondary double glazing – it can be cost effective
• Draught strip doors and windows with foam insulation strips – it’s cheap and very effective
• Line your curtains – it will keep valuable heat in
• Draw curtains when it goes dark – this stops heat escaping and draughts coming in
• Keep windows and internal doors closed when it’s cold – this will keep heat inside where you need it
• Make a ‘sausage dog’ – use rolled up blankets or sausage shaped cushions to keep out draughts from your window sills and doors – very good for keeping warm
• Get a keyhole cover – this will help keep out draughts
• Invest in a draught excluder for your letter box to help save you money
• Insulate your loft with at least 270mm/11 inches of mineral wood insulation - this will make your home more efficient and help save you money on your energy bills

Boiler troubles?

If your faith in your boiler is dwindling or if your electricity account is too expensive (compare electricity prices to make sure your provider isn’t over charging you), it might be in your best long term interests to spend some cash on a new boiler.

If your boiler is between 10–15 years old it might very well be worth replacing it with a new energy efficient one, they are available from about £299, but can also cost up to £1,500 or more, so have a good look around to ensure you aren’t paying too much for your new boiler. But the new energy efficient boilers could help you save up to £275 a year on your electricity bill!

Nice and warm without the cost – how to spend less on hot water and heating

• If you do have a bath avoid wasting water – don’t fill the bath deeper than you need
• Put the plug in when washing your hands instead of using running water – it will save you hot water and help with heating costs
• Use a washing up bowl in the kitchen sink –you will use less water
• Try rinsing hand washed dishes in cold water instead of hot – it will save hot water
• Keep your cylinder cosy – ensure your hot water cylinder has a 80mm jacket
• Wrap up exposed pipes in insulation – it will save heat and help stop them freezing in winter
• Boil the kettle when you only need a small amount of hot water
• Shower instead of taking a bath - baths use up to three times as much hot water as non - power showers
• Make sure your immersion heater thermostat is not set too high – 60°C is ideal
• Ensure you turn taps off when you're not using them – it will avoid wasting water
• If your central heating also heats your water, fit a cylinder thermostat to help ensure you don’t overheat your water
• Turn down your heating when going on holiday in winter – it will still ensure your pipes don’t  freeze and avoid wasting heat when you’re not there
• Alternatively, if you go away in the summer you could consider turning your water heating off altogether – saving you money while you’re away
• If you’re on a water meter be careful not to waste any, especially hot water as you will be paying for the water and to heat it
• If you don’t have a water meter fitted and there are only a small number of people living in your home, you could save money by having a water meter. Your water provider will be able to advise on what’s best for you
• Replace washers on dripping taps – you’re wasting water if they are dripping

What’s cooking? – cook for less

• Only boil the amount of water you need - this will use less electricity
• Never put a small pan on a large ring - it wastes energy and money
• Cut food into smaller pieces as it cooks quicker
• Put lids on your saucepans when cooking to reduce cooking time
• Use the inner ring if you have dual rings – food will cook in the same time, but use less energy
• If you have a gas hob, make sure you have it on the right setting for your saucepans – if you find flames going up the sides, your setting is too high
• Use a steamer or segmented pan – you will be able to cook several types of vegetable on just one ring
• Use an energy saving kettle to boil water – these allow you to boil just what you need
• Descale electric kettles regularly – limescale makes your kettle work harder
• Don’t delay – many modern ovens, especially fan ovens, need little or no preheating
• Try using all the space in your oven when it’s in use - you could cook extra portions of food that you can freeze
• Use an electric toaster – they are quicker and more efficient than electric grills for making toast
• Avoid chip pans – try an electric deep fat fryer, they are safer and more economical
• Try a pressure cooker – they cook food faster due to the high temperature and pressure conditions  inside the cooking pot
• Use a slow cooker – for many dishes these are more efficient as you can cook the whole dish in one pot
• Buy a halogen or induction hob if you’re looking for a new one – they are efficient, controllable and easy to clean
• Grill if possible – it can be healthier and quicker than using the oven
• Try to turn boiling vegetables or rice down to a simmer – they will cook in the same time, but it will cost you less
• Use a microwave to heat things up – they are quick, easy to use, economical and energy efficient
• Keep the glass in your oven door clean - you will then be able to see through it to check your food, instead of opening the door and letting the heat out

Heating help - how to run your heating system more efficiently

• Don't leave your heating on all day if you're not there - it's a myth that it's cheaper to do this than having it on just when you need it
• Program your heating for the week ahead - so that it is turned off when you're away and on when you are back
• According to the Energy Saving Trust, turning your central heating thermostat down just 1 º C could save up to 10% on your fuel bills
• Turn down your heating before opening a window, so you don't waste heat you're paying for
• Avoid putting storage heaters under windows or near draughts - it can affect the sensor measuring your rooms temperature
• Fit thermostatic radiator valves to radiators - you'll then be able to alter individual room temperatures to suit your needs
• Heat water with your boiler - using an immersion heater is often more expensive
• Fit the right size radiator to suit your room - it means your rooms will not be cold when you're using your central heating
• Don't cover radiators with curtains or furniture - it makes them less efficient
• Avoid overheating your house at night while you're sleeping - try a thicker duvet first to keep you warm
• Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice during the winter - this allows the heat to circulate effectively and efficiently
• Replace boilers over 15 years old now if you can - you could save up to 40%* on your fuel bill
• Pick a gas condensing boiler if you're getting a new one - these are highly efficient
• Keep internal doors open when it's warm - this will allow air to circulate throughout your home, helping to keep it warm for free
• Ensure your fuel burning appliances are checked annually - this helps ensure they are working efficiently

Notes

* Age UK Energy customers can apply for their own E.ON Energy Starter Pack containing monitor and software either when they buy online or by calling 0800 156784.

Age UK Energy is a trading name of Age UK Enterprises Limited (a trading company of Age UK‚ which donates net profits to that charity). Registered in England and Wales No. 3156159. Registered Office: Astral House‚ 1268 London Road‚ London SW16 4ER.  E.ON Energy Solutions Limited. Registered office: Westwood Way, Westwood Business Park‚ Coventry CV4 8LG. Registered in England and Wales No. 3407430.

Age UK Group comprises of the Charity and its group companies and works with national partners (Age Cymru‚ Age Scotland & Age NI) and local partners (local Age UK/Age Concern charities).

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