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Comparison of the Best Student Utility Suppliers

We’ve reviewed the current deals available to students on the market, along with our verdict on who we think is best. But before you’ve made your final decision, it’s best to do your research before committing to a contract… and don’t forget to read the small print!












Supplier Average monthly cost per person Cancellation fee Possibility to split bills? Info & reviews Website
Glide

£0.00

Yes

No

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Information

Flexible tariffs on offer specifically for students combined with bills split per tenant makes Glide our top energy provider.

Glide is a utilities provider with a difference: it is focused on providing contracts to shared student housing. The main benefit of this is that they split the bills depending on how many tenants there are, meaning you’re all accountable for your share, and the days of falling out over who hasn’t paid the bills are over!

Students rate Glide very highly as an energy provider, with previous student Dave stating “when I was a student, we fell out over bills so badly, one of our housemates actually moved out. Then we heard about Glide – one monthly payment for just my share of the bills and no more squabbling over who owes what. I even get money back if we use less – brilliant!”

For those of you that are concerned about your carbon footprint, Glide source all of their energy through green supplier Ecotricity and you can get your broadband and even your TV license through Glide – making things as simple as possible.

Prices aren’t listed on the website, as Glide will give tailored quotes to each property; visit Glide or give them a call on 0333 666 5555 to find out what they can offer you!

Reviews

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Customer Service
Value for Money
Billing Accuracy and Clarity
Ease of splitting bills with housemates
Complaints handling
Green credentials
Rating: 3.6/5
Ecotricity

£3.50

Yes

No

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Information

Which? Satisfaction Rating:
1/17 (joint)

A green energy supplier that has proven very popular with respondents to the Which? survey. In addition to their green electricity they also have plans to produce gas through their ‘Green Gas Mills’ and until they do their gas comes with a ‘Frack Free’ promise.

We do like their nice and simple pricing – one standard tariff, which in many cases they claim is cheaper than the large energy suppliers, so reducing your carbon footprint does not need to impact too much on your wallet. There are no specific student deals, but it is worth noting that our top pick – student specialists Glide – buy all of their electricity through Ecotricity, which presents the opportunity to achieve the best of both worlds, by combining the student friendly Glide offer with green credentials.

Reviews

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Customer Service
Value for Money
Billing Accuracy and Clarity
Ease of splitting bills with housemates
Complaints handling
Green credentials
Rating: 2.9/5
British Gas

£9.50

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No

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Information

Which? Satisfaction Rating:
16/17
No cancellation fees with their standard tariff, and their ‘ME’ app helping student tenants to share billing information more easily, makes British Gas one of our top choices.

One of the UK’s top gas and electricity providers, they offer a monthly cost of approximately £101 for gas and electricity on their Standard contract; where you aren’t tied to a tariff meaning there’s no cancellation fees for when you and your housemates move out. The other option is £90 a month on their fixed tariff, with prices staying the same until May 2015. Just be aware of the £30 cancellation fee if you decide to quit.

British Gas’ ‘ME’ app is targeted at students allows you share billing information and estimates between housemates. Be aware that unlike Glide, one of you will need to take responsibility for paying the bill, the app just allows you to remind your housemates that they owe you money.

For full prices and plans you can visit their Mobile Energy website

Reviews

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Customer Service
Value for Money
Billing Accuracy and Clarity
Ease of splitting bills with housemates
Complaints handling
Green credentials
Rating: 1.7/5
Npower

£9.50

Yes

No

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Information

Which? Satisfaction Rating:
17/17
Claiming to beat the price of any current energy provider Npower’s prices are competitive and attractive to students.
On their website, Npower claims to give a price cheaper than your current supplier. When getting a quote, I told them I was with British Gas, and I paid on average £91 per month for gas and electricity – they gave me a quote for £86.45. On their standard tariff – which there are no cancellation fees – if you pay by direct debit you’ll receive a £90 discount; which, is practically like a student discount, and perfect for saving money!

However, despite the attractive pricing, Npower were ranked 17th out of 17th in the Which? Survey, where they achieved low scores in relation to customer services and complaints handling.

Reviews

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Customer Service
Value for Money
Billing Accuracy and Clarity
Ease of splitting bills with housemates
Complaints handling
Green credentials
Rating: 1.2/5
E-on

£9.50

Yes

No

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Information

Which? Satisfaction Rating:
11/17

Free Tesco clubcard points or high street vouchers upon signup, although prices are higher with no student deals.

You’re looking to pay around £97.63 per month on their variable tariff, or £94.66 on their one year fixed rate; and if you pay this by direct debit they claim to charge you £70 less, so it’s definitely the best way to pay the bills! When you sign up to a tariff, you’ll receive 1,500 E.ON reward points which can be exchanged for Tesco Clubcard points or high street vouchers; although their prices are higher than British Gas and EDF.

Reviews

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Customer Service
Value for Money
Billing Accuracy and Clarity
Ease of splitting bills with housemates
Complaints handling
Green credentials
Rating: 1.5/5
Scottish Power

£9.50

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No

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Information

Which? Satisfaction Rating:
14/17
A charitable company with links to Cancer Research UK; but with the highest prices, and no deals or discounts, Scottish Power is our least cost-effective energy supplier.

Scottish Power has enjoyed strong links with Cancer Research UK since 2011, and has so far raised £3million; with a £10 donation when you join up, and an extra £10 every year you stay with them until April 2017, which is a nice touch! However, prices are higher than all other energy suppliers at approximately £99.92 per month. Whilst it seems much more reasonable when broken down between a few of you, there are much better options elsewhere.

Reviews

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Customer Service
Value for Money
Billing Accuracy and Clarity
Ease of splitting bills with housemates
Complaints handling
Green credentials
Rating: 1.5/5
EDF Energy

£9.50

Yes

No

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Information

Which? Satisfaction Rating:
13/17
Average costs with no student discounts or savings; although they are very environmentally friendly.

EDF’s fixed price contract for 12 months equates to £91.60 per month, which will remain the same until June 2015; and with their Blue+Price promise, users can save up to a £1 a week which, although doesn’t sound like much, equates to £52 over the year. However, their lack of student discounts or rewards stops them from being so competitive.

Reviews

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Customer Service
Value for Money
Billing Accuracy and Clarity
Ease of splitting bills with housemates
Complaints handling
Green credentials
Rating: 1.9/5
Southern Electric

£9.50

Yes

No

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Information

Which? Satisfaction Rating:
14/17
Southern Electric are a energy company that likes to put their ‘green’ credentials at the front and centre of their efforts to sign up customers. They claim to generate more energy from wind and water than any other company in the UK.

Perhaps more pragmatically they are offering a price freeze on their standard tariff up until 2016. While they do offer longer ‘price’ fixes they are perhaps less relevant to the average student tenant who does not plan to stay in a property for more than one year. There website also includes the ability to review their different tariffs, although the rate per kWh is not the easiest to understand for those new to the energy market.

Reviews

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Customer Service
Value for Money
Billing Accuracy and Clarity
Ease of splitting bills with housemates
Complaints handling
Green credentials
Rating: 2.6/5
First Utility

£9.50

Yes

No

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Information

Which? Satisfaction Rating:
8/17
One of a raft of smaller energy suppliers that are trying to establish a presence in the market. Their key selling point is simplicity and their main marketing message is that there standard tariff is guaranteed to be cheaper than the ‘big six’ energy suppliers.

While they only offer three other tariffs (simple!) the standard offer is probably the best for the ‘average’ student that does not want to commit to a tariff that is more than a year.

Reviews

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Customer Service
Value for Money
Billing Accuracy and Clarity
Ease of splitting bills with housemates
Complaints handling
Green credentials
Rating: 1.9/5
Good Energy

£9.50

Yes

No

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Information

Which? Satisfaction Rating:
1/17

A green energy supplier that regularly come top of the which satisfaction survey. At their name implies they are very focused on their ‘Green’ credentials, with 100% of their electricity from renewable sources.

If you visit their website you can see how they generate their electricity- relying on ‘Cornish Sun, Welsh Rain and Scottish Rain’ There are no specific student deals or tariffs, but they do offer a real alternative to the more traditional companies, and offer a particular positive for those who are keen to reduce their carbon footprint. Price-wise, they are not as student friendly as they might be.

Reviews

VN:F [1.9.16_1159]
Customer Service
Value for Money
Billing Accuracy and Clarity
Ease of splitting bills with housemates
Complaints handling
Green credentials
Rating: 1.9/5
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