What's cooking?

Changing from British Gas to a new supplier can save money for almost everyone. So why do three out of four people not do so? Mainly, it seems,out of ignorance. Paul Lewis kicks off his special four-page gas deregulation report with the answers to your questions.

Will I need new pipes?

No. The same gas comes through the same pipes and into the same meter. There won't be any mechanical diggers tearing up the front garden and annoying the neighbours. Think of it more like taking money out of a cash dispenser. It doesn't matter who you bank with, you can still get tenners out of the hole in the wall. With gas, the supplier simply debits your account with the amount you use, and sends you a bill. It then pays a wholesaler to top up the gas supply with however many cubic feet you have used. So who runs the supply system? A company called Transco is responsible for the network of pipes and gas storage tanks. Transco used to be part of British Gas until that company was finally split into two in 1997. One part - Transco - got the pipes and network. It is responsible for everything up to and including the meter. The other half of the old British Gas is called Centrica and it got the retail business. Just to completely befuddle everyone, Centrica now operates under the confusing name 'British Gas Trading'! What about safety? See previous answer. Transco still runs the whole network and is responsible for safety of the ethane, methane, and propane that makes up North Sea Gas. It adds a small amount of one of the smelliest known substance - ethyl mercaptan - so you smell a leak quickly. And if you do smell gas or think there is a danger of a leak, you ring one national freefone number 0800 111 999. Who will read the meter? The new gas supplier has the job of reading the meter though usually it will contract that out to another company. The people must carry identification. The meter itself belongs to Transco so if you have any queries about the accuracy of the meter, contact them. Different companies have different policies on how often the meter will be read but it will normally be every six or 12 months. Will I save the amount I am promised? Almost certainly not. At least six gas companies have had complaints about their advertising upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority. And the doorstep salespeople are often very unwilling to give you detailed info and instead talk in broad generalisations. But if you are with British Gas you will almost certainly save something by changing. If you go for the cheapest supplier, an average saving might be GBP 50 a year - anything from 10%-25% off your annual bill depending on how much gas you use and how you currently pay. People with prepayment meters will save less - and indeed may not save anything. How do I choose the cheapest? It is not easy to be sure who will be the cheapest gas supplier for you. You can get a copy of the tariffs offered by all the suppliers in your area from Ofgas - the gas regulator. The information is prepared by the Consumers'Association from information supplied by the companies so it should be reliable. Check how much gas you used in the last year and then do the calculation yourself. The figures in the Ofgas leaflet do NOT have VAT added except in the final totals. So if you use the tariff information to work it out yourself, add 5% VAT to the final amount. (See next page) Once I've changed, can I change back if I'm not happy? Most suppliers demand 28 days notice for you to leave them. So you could change suppliers every month if you have the energy. However, a couple of suppliers guarantee that the tariff they have offered you will not change for a fixed period. If you cancel within that period you will have to pay a cancellation fee. These companies are new and untested. What if my new supplier goes bust? If your gas supplier can no longer supply you, Ofgas, the gas regulator, will make sure another company provides your gas until you choose who you want as your new supplier. There will be no break in the gas supply. So how do I change? Once you have picked your new supplier, get the forms, fill them in and within a few weeks you should be saving money. Better the devil.. SHARON DEE, principal policy officer at the Consumers' Association, has her own views on why people are reluctant to change their gas supplier. "When we asked people why they didn't change supplier the main reason was 'better the devil you know'. They knew there were financial savings but they didn't feel confident about switching." Her advice is: "Well shop around, obviously. Get all the information you can and see which is best for you. But remember, if you do sign something you're not committed for life. You can change anytime by giving 28 days notice. And if you signed when a salesman called uninvited you can cancel within seven days." For more information Ofgas, Freepost MR8192, Manchester, M1 9AZ or telephone 0800 88 77 77 Gas Consumers Council, 130 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1LT. Telephone 0645 06 07 08 Transco, For gas leaks telephone 0800 111 999

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