Comparison Tools Can Hide Energy Tariffs

One Fool writer responds to queries about gas and electricity comparison tools, such as 'Do they hide tariffs?' and 'Is it cheaper to go direct?'

We get lots of questions via email and on our Utilities discussion board about the reliability of online gas and electricity comparison tools. So I thought I'd answer some of the most important ones in an article.

Do they show tariffs in the correct order (i.e. cheapest first)?

If a comparison service is approved by Energywatch, it means that its tariffs are shown in the correct order -- cheapest first.

Can they hide tariffs?

They can do, if they're unscrupulous, although ultimately they must show all tariffs.

Energywatch-approved tools must compare all currently available tariffs, but when the results page initially appears, they just have to list prices from five of the cheapest suppliers. So, if you're looking for specific suppliers, you might not see them all on some tools, especially if the comparison service doesn't make money from that energy supplier.

However, accredited comparison tools that use this practice must offer a follow-through page so that you can see all results, according to Energywatch's code of practice. So keep a sharp eye out for missing tariffs, and for extra buttons that help you to see the whole table!

Also, comparison tools don't have to offer you a hyperlink to suppliers that pay no commission, which makes it a little more difficult to switch.

Typically, historical tariffs are excluded from comparison tools, so you won't see tariffs that you can no longer apply for. Most suppliers won't let you stay with them and switch to a new, cheaper tariff anyway. British Gas is the only exception, although not-for profit provider EBICO is innocent, because it offers the same tariff to old and new customers.

Can suppliers refuse to be included in comparison tables?

No, because gas and electricity prices are in the public domain. Florian Ritzmann of Xelector, which powers The Fool's gas and electricity tool, told me that suppliers can make it difficult, but not impossible. Furthermore, he said that British Gas was the last to change its stance to one of co-operation with comparison tools, and this happened about two years ago.

Is it cheaper to go direct with the supplier, rather than clicking through a comparison tool?

In brief, no, or very rarely. You get the same deals whether you go direct or through a comparison tool. In detail, I answered a similar question in an article last year, so allow me to plagiarise myself:

"Like many comparison websites, The Fool compares not just every supplier and vendor, but every one of the thousands of tariffs as well. I say every one, but sometimes what happens is that comparison websites actually have extra tariffs that you can't get direct through the supplier. Occasionally, the opposite is true. But, on the whole, comparison sites show everything."

Must all comparison tools calculate the prices in the same way?

Yes, Energywatch-approved tools must do this, although I believe there is still a little room for manoeuvrability. However, I don't think this usually affects the order the suppliers are shown on the results page.

You could read about more queries we've had in How To Fix Problems With Your Energy Company, where I provide solutions for problems with suppliers and comparison tools.

Regular readers will know that us Fool writers are fiercely independent from commercial concerns. So, when I say that I believe The Fool's gas and electricity tool is the best, I really mean it. It uses no dodgy tricks, and I also believe it is the most accurate tool on the Web. (You can read my reasons here.)

> About The Fool's gas and electricity comparison tool

British Gas, EBICO, npower, EDF...you name it, The Motley Fool's comparison tool has got it! We don't show historical tariffs, but we show all currently available tariffs, in the correct order. We supply links to all the suppliers, even if we get no commission from them. Our tool is powered by Xelector, aka unravelit, which is Energywatch-approved.