Sainsbury’s Energy Reviews & Tariffs

Sainsbury’s Energy Electricity, Gas & Dual Fuel Tariffs

The tariffs below are based on gas and electricity for a home energy at a specific postcode with national average usage.

You have to provide Sainsbury’s Energy with your phone number to get your quote, and they contact you within a couple of hours, which might be a bit irritating if you don’t want to be sold over the phone.

Price Freeze

• Gas – £58.83 monthly, £705.99 annually (25.28p per day standing charge, 3.7p per kWh).
• Electricity – £92.20 monthly, £1106.46 annually (25.28p per day standing charge, 14.15p per kWh).
• Total annual cost – £1,812.45.
• Projected monthly cost – £151.04
• Fixed until 30 Nov 2018.
• £20 exit fee per fuel.

Price Promise

• Gas – £58.83 monthly, £705.99 annually (25.28p per day standing charge, 3.7p per kWh).
• Electricity – £92.20 monthly, £1106.46 annually (25.28p per day standing charge, 14.15p per kWh).
• Total annual cost – £1,812.45.
• Projected monthly cost – £151.04
• Fixed until 31 Dec 2018.
• £20 exit fee per fuel.

Price Promise 2

• Gas – £59.99 monthly, £719.93 annually (25.75p per day standing charge, 3.77p per kWh).
• Electricity – £93.92 monthly, £1127.01 annually (25.75p per day standing charge, 14.41p per kWh).
• Total annual cost – £1,846.94.
• Projected monthly cost – £151.04
• Fixed until 31 Aug 2019.
• £40 exit fee per fuel.

Standard

• Gas – £60.37 monthly, £724.38 annually (25.75p per day standing charge, 3.77p per kWh).
• Electricity – £95.32 monthly, £1143.79 annually (25.75p per day standing charge, 14.41p per kWh).
• Total annual cost – £1,868.17.
• Projected monthly cost – £155.68
• Variable, the price can go up or down.
• No exit fee.

Note the tariffs listed above were correct at the time of writing (17 November 2017), although as noted, prices will vary by postcode and are subject to change at any time. 

Sainsbury’s Energy for Business

Sainsbury’s Energy doesn’t provide business energy, but British Gas have fixed and flexible tariffs available for businesses of all different sizes.

Fixed-term energy plans

• Designed to minimise cost.
• The unit rate is set for a specific period of time.
• The longer the fixed period, the higher the price can be.

Variable price plans

• Prices can go up or down.
• Customers will automatically move to a variable tariff when their fixed contract ends (and they haven’t switched or chosen a new contract).
• There are no exit fees, you can leave at any time if you give 30 days’ notice.

Deemed rates

• Automatic when you become responsible for a property already powered by British Gas.
• Usually more expensive than a fixed contract, so only temporary.
• British Gas will get in touch to move you to a fixed or variable contract.

Landlord tariff

• Designed for commercial landlords and agents who manage commercial properties.
• 6-month contract.
• No standing charge, so you don’t pay anything while a property’s empty.
• Fixed unit rates.
• Free smart meter if eligible.

Sainsbury’s Energy Background

Currently the UK’s second-biggest supermarket, Sainsbury’s partnered with British Gas in 2011 to provide gas and electricity tariffs. Previously, customers would earn Nectar points which could then be used in-store, making them an appealing prospect for people who already shop at Sainsbury’s, but this promotion has been replaced with high street shopping vouchers.

All energy is generated by British Gas and the prices are relatively similar, sometimes cheaper (some tariffs have only a few pennies between them), but customer service and online account management appear to be separate from British Gas, at least in terms of appearance.

It doesn’t look like Sainsbury’s Energy customers benefit from Hive just like other British Gas customers, giving them the ability to control their energy remotely and track usage. The website doesn’t promote it or provide any info.

Martin Lewis of moneysavingexpert.com recently called Sainsbury’s Energy “British Gas in disguise”, warning his readers that British Gas price hikes could affect Sainsbury’s customers too.

The only difference between Sainsbury’s Energy and British Gas could potentially be simply the branding and logo, but if they’re slightly cheaper it could be incentive enough.

Sainsbury’s Energy Smart Meter

Sainsbury's Energy provides its domestic customers with smart meters should they desire them. Customers with no smart meter can simply call or email the supplier to book an installation, and Sainsbury's Energy will arrange to send someone over to install the smart meter.

Smart meters are free with Sainsbury's Energy, and there is no additional cost to install them. What's more, while the smart meter may use a small amount of energy to run and submit meter readings, the meter does not charge you for the electricity the meter uses. The In-Home Display, however, does use a small amount of energy and this is included within your electricity usage, however, it is minimal and the money-saving benefits of knowing your energy usage are expected to outweigh the cost of running the IHD. There is also the option to unplug the IHD.

For customers with existing smart meters thinking about switching to Sainsbury's Energy, there is a chance some or all features may stop working when you switch from another supplier. In this case, you can still get electricity readings, but you will need to submit meter readings online.

Learn more on the Sainsbury's Energy website. 

Other Sainsbury’s Energy Meters

Sainsbury’s Energy Bills

Billing advice is quite limited, with only four questions answered in the help and advice section (two of them are basically identical too). There’s no indication of what your bill will look like.

British Gas has fairly extensive information on what your energy bill means, so there may be some crossover to bear in mind.

Sainsbury’s Energy App

Currently, there’s no app available for Sainsbury’s Energy customers.

Switching To Sainsbury’s Energy

Once you’ve chosen the tariff you want, Sainsbury’s Energy will confirm it in writing the next working day, and then read your meter and switch you on after about 2 and a half weeks.

If you switch from British Gas to Sainsbury’s, it takes just as long as switching from another energy supplier.

Moving Home With Sainsbury’s Energy

If you’re moving, you can call Sainsbury’s to leave or continue your contract at a new address. There’s a list of information you’ll need before you call on their website.

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.

Sainsbury’s Energy Fuel Mix

Coal – 11% (8.5% UK average)
Gas – 34% (44.1%)
Nuclear – 10% (21.0%)
Renewable – 40% (24.2%)
Other – 4% (2.2%)

Sainsbury’s Energy In the News

Energy bills to rocket next month as coldest December in 5 years sweeps in – but act now and save £300 on winter expenses
17 Nov 2017, Mirror

We’re predicted to experience the coldest December in 5 years, so energy costs are predicted to increase by “as much as £300 over the next quarter” according to MoneySuperMarket. Many customers’ energy deals expire around this time, so they could face variable tariffs which increase significantly. Sainsbury’s Energy is listed as one of the companies whose prices could increase.

How long does your energy company keep you on hold?
16 Nov 2017, Which?

Sainsbury’s takes on average 361.5 seconds to answer the phone for a customer service enquiry and just 30.5 seconds if they’re ready to sell you something.

British Gas price hike hits today – most can save up to £300/yr by switching
1 August 2017, The Guardian

Customers on British Gas’ standard tariff saw prices increase by 7.3% in September, which includes Sainsbury’s Energy customers. Customers are encouraged to switch to a smaller energy company they’ve never heard of, because they quite often provide the cheapest tariffs, or choose their ‘Big Six’ tariffs carefully.

Sainsbury’s Energy Complaints

On the whole, Sainsbury’s reviews aren’t great. They have far fewer online reviewers compared to the giant that is British Gas though – 59 compared to nearly 3,000 – so these views might not be as representative.

Sainsbury’s complaints report links you directly to British Gas’ complaints report. In the third quarter of 2017, they claim to have resolved 51.3% of complaints the next working day, and 89.3% within 8 weeks.

Contact Phone Numbers & Email

Phone: 0800 316 0316 (for existing customers) 0800 107 1879 (to get a quote).
Email: Form on the contact page

Sainsbury’s Energy Address

Sainsbury’s Energy, PO BOX 227, Rotherham, S98 1PD.

Website: https://www.sainsburysenergy.com

Sainsbury’s Energy Summary

In some ways, joining Sainsbury’s Energy seems a lot like joining British Gas with fewer perks. The prices are sometimes comparatively slightly cheaper, but customers are subject to the same price hikes as British Gas customers.

If a particular tariff looks good to you and fits your needs, they could be a good company to go with, but it begs the question ‘Why not just go with British Gas?’

Pros:

• Fuel mix uses double the national average of renewable energy.
• Slightly cheaper than British Gas.
• Shopping vouchers are available.

Cons:

• Apparently no smart meters on the horizon.
• Access to British Gas energy without access to the Hive app.
• No app is available for customers.