EDF Energy – an overview

EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy suppliers generating around 1/5 of the country’s electricity. The company is also the UK’s biggest producer of low-carbon electricity and has a very strong focus on sustainable energy. EDF Energy’s mission is ‘to bring sustainable energy solutions home to everyone’ and they are aiming to do this by delivering low-carbon nuclear power responsibly.

The company supplies energy to a large number of businesses as well as homes and with all packages they offer expert tips and advice on how you can save energy and reduce your bills. Using   the Online Energy Adviser, which asks you to answer approximately 20 questions about the way you use energy, you’ll be able to see how you could make financial savings and reduce your carbon footprint.

EDF Energy offer a range of flexible and fixed tariffs to suit your needs. Two of the cheapest options are Fixed S@ver Version 2 which offers fixed prices up until 30 September 2012 and Online S@ver Version 12 which offers 2% minimum discount on their standard rates until the end of September 2012 as well. The drawback with these tariffs is that there isn’t a huge amount of flexibility with either option. You must take both gas and electricity and pay by Direct Debit and if you do decide you’d like to change you’ll have to pay a cancellation fee of up to £50. 

The Ecomanager tariff is ideal for people who are trying to reduce their energy consumption as it comes with a personalised energy saving action plan plus tips and advice which could help reduce your bills by more than £150 per year. You get a free Ecomanager wireless appliance controller and competitive energy prices on the standard tariff. This tariff also has an early cancellation fee of up to £49.99. The Energy Discount Plan Version 5 guarantees that prices will always be cheaper whether the standard tariff goes up or down and you’ll pay 2.5% less than the standard tariff until 31 December 2012. Again, there is a cancellation fee of up to £50.

The standard option, as is the case with most other suppliers, is the most flexible option available and allows you to pay how you choose. Prices will vary but you can select the plan that suits your energy usage and habits best and there is no cancellation fee. With the standard plan you also get an annual discount when you choose gas and electricity.

The Green tariff is, on average, the most expensive tariff with EDF Energy, however if you are conscious of your carbon footprint you can rest assured that by choosing this option you are helping to fund renewable energy projects in the UK. This tariff also includes a free home energy audit to help you identify where you are wasting energy and how your habits are impacting on your usage and, ultimately, your bill.

If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like ‘surprises’ when it comes to your energy bills, then you could opt for EDF’s Fixed Price 2014 tariff. This offers protection against any unexpected increase in prices and means you can budget effectively right up until March 2014. An early termination fee will be applied, however. Alternatively you could go for the Pay As You Go option which puts you in control of how much energy you use and how much you spend. You pay the same rate as customers on a bill plan but there’s no need to worry about meter readings or monthly bills. If you’re in arrears with your energy bills, this could be a great option to help you get back in the black.