EDF Energy are one of the largest energy providers in the UK, powering 5 million homes and businesses, and offer the choice of a completely renewable tariff.
Find out if they are right for you based on reviews from around the web below:
EDF Energy Reviews
- Trustpilot: 2.3 out of 10, based on 764 reviews, rated ‘Bad’ overall.
- Which?: Overall customer score of 55% based on 881 customers. On average, customers rate them 3/5 for customer service, value for money, and bill clarity. They score just 2/5 for helping to save energy.
- Review Centre: 1.4 out of 5, based on 287 reviews.
- Citizens Advice: 4 out of 5, (total number of reviewers not available). EDF came 4th in the Citizens Advice ranking of 23 energy companies. They score an average of 5 stars for ease of switching and dealing with complaints, and 3 stars for ease of contact and bill clarity.
EDF Energy Electricity, Gas & Dual Fuel Tariffs
The tariffs below are based on gas and electric for a home at a specific postcode with national average usage. For a more specific tariff, you can enter your own details at edfenergy.com. You have to provide EDF with your email address to get your quote, which could be a bit irritating if you don’t want to receive loads of marketing info.
Online Saver
- Gas – £891.90 annually, 26.25p per day standing charge, 3.33p per kWh.
- Electricity – £934.83 annually, 18.90p per day standing charge, 16.31p per kWh.
- Total annual cost – £1,826.73.
- Projected monthly cost – £153.
- Fixed until end of Jan 2019.
- £35 exit fee per fuel.
Blue+ Heating Protect
- Gas – £905.70 annually, 26.25p per day standing charge, 3.338p per kWh.
- Electricity – £939.29 annually, 18.90p per day standing charge, 16.40p per kWh.
- Total annual cost – £1,844.99.
- Projected monthly cost – £155.
- Fixed until end of Feb 2020.
- No exit fee.
- One year’s heating insurance, covering gas boiler, radiators and thermostats.
- Electricity backed by low-carbon generation.
Connect+Control2
- Gas – £924.87 annually, 31.50p per day standing charge, 3.338p per kWh.
- Electricity – £950.79 annually, 22.05p per day standing charge, 16.40p per kWh.
- Total annual cost – £1,875.66.
- Projected monthly cost – £158.
- Fixed until end of Feb 2020.
- £135 exit fee per fuel.
- Includes a free Amazon Echo and HeatSmart thermostat.
Smart Saver
- Gas – £962.94 annually, 26.25p per day standing charge, 3.627p per kWh.
- Electricity – £956.02 annually, 18.90p per day standing charge, 16.71p per kWh.
- Total annual cost – £1,918.96.
- Projected monthly cost – £161.
- Fixed until end of January 2019.
- £35 exit fee per fuel.
Standard (Variable)
- Gas – £972.73 annually, 26.25p per day standing charge, 3.668p per kWh.
- Electricity – £964.94 annually, 18.90p per day standing charge, 16.88p per kWh.
- Total annual cost – £1,937.67.
- Projected monthly cost – £161.
- Variable prices, could go up or down.
- No exit fee.
Note the tariffs listed above were correct at the time of writing (9 November 2017), although as noted, prices will vary by post code and subject to change at any time.
EDF Business Energy
Fixed for business
- Fixed contract with a choice of lengths.
- Early exit fees apply.
- Automatically renews after the contract ends, becomes Easy Fix.
New Start
- Flexible, short term contracts (6-9 months).
- Electricity only.
- Designed for businesses moving into a new premises or just getting started.
- No exit fees.
- Automatically renews after the contract ends, becomes Easy Fix.
Freedom for business
- Variable, flexible tariff.
- No fixed end date, no notice to leave.
- 30 days’ notice before any pricing changes.
For more see: 2018 EDF Energy Business Electricity & Gas Tariffs & Rates
EDF Energy Background
Producing a fifth of the UK’s electricity, EDF Energy is apparently the biggest supplier of low-carbon electricity supplier by volume. The energy company formed after the merger of SEEBoard, London Electricity and SWEB in 2003. Since then, they’ve focused quite heavily on nuclear-generated energy, running eight power stations which contribute to 60% of the electricity they produce.
EDF Energy’s latest developments include Low Carbon Generation, the development of sustainable ‘Smart Cities’, and working with 5 different energy startups. They focus quite heavily on innovation and education, more so than many of the other ‘Big Six’.
In terms of what really matters to customers day-to-day, EDF won ‘Best of the Big Six’ at the Home Finances Awards 2016 and 2017, “with its value for money and customer service putting it well ahead of the other five”.
The firm has also developed a smart thermostat called HeatSmart, offer free plumbing and wiring insurance, and boiler and heating insurance.
EDF Energy Smart Meter
Like the rest of ‘The Big Six’, EDF are rolling out smart meters gradually. If you’re eligible (the rules are a bit vague, but you can get all the info on the Smart Energy GB site) you can book an installation.
It takes about an hour to replace each meter, and your power and gas will need to be turned off for about half an hour. Once everything’s up and running, your engineer will show you how to use it and what the display means.
Smart meters mean you don’t have to manually submit meter readings anymore and your bill will be more accurate. You can also monitor your usage on the screen throughout the day and reduce consumption in real-time.
Your electricity usage will be reported every few seconds, and your gas usage every half an hour. The government have set a deadline for energy companies to provide all eligible customers with smart meters free of charge by 2020.
Other EDF Energy Meters
There’s a handy visual guide to reading meters on the EDF help page, showing customers how to interpret both digital and dial meters. For anyone still struggling, there’s a phone number to call or you can get online assistance.
If you’re all sorted and know how to read your meter, you can send it to EDF using your online account, over the phone, or even through the post.
If you’re not able to get a smart meter just yet, sending regular meter readings is the best way to keep your bill accurate.
EDF Energy Bills
EDF overhauled the way they present their bills a few years ago. Now, they’re written in relatable customer language, have coloured sections to pull out important info, and include pictures showing the previous year’s usage, and your projected spend for the year.
These insights are particularly helpful when it comes to reducing energy consumption going forward, which suggests why EDF have won awards for clarity.
There are apparently 5 different kinds of bills, 3 different annual statements, and 2 different read reminders you could receive from EDF, so they’ve published an interactive guide to each of them, explaining the sections and what they mean.
EDF Energy Warm Home Discount
EDF Energy was part of the 2017/18 Warm Home Discount scheme, which gives vulnerable people £140 towards their energy bills. They aren’t currently registering interest for 2018/19, but expect to do so over the summer of 2018. You can learn more here.
EDF Energy App
The EDF Energy app has quite a few more features than many of the other ‘Big Six’ apps. As well as the usual account management functionality, you can also change your tariff, manage your Direct Debit, tell EDF you’re moving home and use the live chat function.
It sounds great, but the reviews aren’t. 1,223 Apple users reviewed the app and it’s scored an average of 2/5 stars. 2,185 Android users are a little bit happier (2.5 stars on average), but there are still lots of complaints about the app not actually loading or working at all.
Switching To EDF Energy
Once you’ve chosen the tariff you want, EDF talk to your current supplier to initiate the switch. They’ll contact you when they need your meter reading and to let you know when the switch is complete.
From start to finish, it apparently takes 3 weeks, including the 14 day cooling off period they legally have to provide.
Moving Home With EDF
EDF Energy prefer customers to contact them no more than 14 days before their moving date, or no more than 30 days after. Customers will need to provide their account number, new address and closing meter readings either online or over the phone.
As tariffs vary from region to region, and depending on what kind of home you live in and how your boiler functions, you might find the prices go up or down if you move to a different area if you stick with EDF.
EDF Energy Fuel Mix
Coal – 5.7% (8.5% UK average)
Gas – 8.4% (44.1%)
Nuclear – 76.9% (21.0%)
Renewable – 8.8% (24.2%)
Other – 0.3% (2.2%)
EDF Feed-in Tariff
EDF Energy is a mandatory Feed-in Tariff (FIT) licensee. This means you can receive your FIT payments from them (as long as your system is MCS certified) if you are an EDF customer or your current energy supplier is not a FIT licensee. You can learn more on their website.
EDF Energy In the News
E.On loses 200,000 customers – and it’s not the only major player people are waving goodbye to – is it time for you to go too?
9 Nov 2017, Mirror
This article is mainly about E.ON losing customers, however, EDF is listed as the fourth “most-frequently switched from company”. Stats have been collated by Compare the Market.
EDF Energy shines a light on big data
8 Nov 2017, Essential Retail
An interview with John Hutchins from EDF’s Blue Lab, about how the energy company is developing devices for the home which report on energy usage.
Tie-up plans come as suppliers face customer exodus
8 Nov 2017, Sky News
Due to high prices, more than 4.5 million British customers are thought to have switched from the major energy companies to smaller rivals. EDF is listed as one of the ‘Big Six’ who may consider merging as a result.
EDF sells majority stake in five UK wind farms
1 Nov 2017, Business Green
Plans have been announced for EDF to sell their majority stake in five different wind farms. This will release £98m in equity for funding other renewable energy projects.
EDF Energy Complaints
Trustpilot paints a contradictory picture for EDF – they have almost equal ‘Excellent’ and ‘Bad’ reviews, meaning their overall average looks quite disappointing. Many of the most recent negative reviews are about disorganised smart meter installations.
Review Centre shows 244 1 star reviews – most of the complaints detail poor customer service.
According to EDF’s own complaints report, they received 140,421 complaints between 1 October 2016 and 30 September 2017 that couldn’t be solved by the next business day. There are no official figures on how big a percentage of total complaints this is.
Contact Phone Numbers & Email
Phone: Various numbers for different departments.
Email: No address provided. You need to be a registered customer with an online account to message EDF.
EDF Energy Address
EDF Trading (Global headquarters), 3rd Floor, Cardinal Place, 80 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5JL.
Website: https://www.edfenergy.com
EDF Energy Summary
‘The Big Six’ regularly raise prices, which is something all their future customers should be aware of before switching. According to The Telegraph’s 2017 rankings, EDF Energy take second place. They’re not the worst, but they’re certainly not the best.
Pros:
- Fuel mix uses less renewable than average and a lot more nuclear. This could be a pro or a con, depending on your focus.
- The help section is very informative and detailed.
- App offers many advanced features.
- A good selection of tariffs.
Cons:
- Smart meters are coming gradually, but the reviewers don’t seem happy with how disorganised installations are.
- App gets poor reviews.
- Second biggest increase in prices in 2017 according to the Telegraph.
- Complaints about customer service.