EDF‘s participation follows Eon and Co-Operative Energy in joining the switch. Eon said it will bid for cash and cheque customers – and make that tariff available to all of its customers. Co-operative Energy agreed to bid after Which? changed its definition of a ‘market leading’ bid to mean that companies could bid their existing best deals. SSE and British Gas have declined participation.
EDF Energy said it would bid in its recently launched Blue +Price Promise tariff, for direct debit customers. The tariff fixes energy prices until September 2013 and includes a promise to let customers know if a rival supplier brings out a tariff which is £1 or more a week cheaper at typical consumption.
EDF Energy praised the Big Switch, saying it would help customers engage better with energy issues, adding “Which? deserve great credit for encouraging customers to engage with the energy industry through this process and to be pro-active in seeking out the best deals.”
The announcement comes as Consumer Focus published its own assessment of collective switching deals. The Watchdog said such initiatives had could “make customers more powerful in some really important markets”, and at the least would “hold a mirror up” to the markets involved. It said collective switching will discipline suppliers against penalising those who don’t switch, adding “The more intelligent provider response would be to offer retention incentives”.
Further details
Eon commits to Big Switch
Co-op to bid in Big Switch
Herd mentality: who’s afraid of the Big Switch?