EDF is one of the largest energy suppliers in the UK, supplying gas and electricity to over 5.7 million customers. The UK arm of state-owned Électricité de France, EDF Energy was formed in 2002 after SWEB Energy, London Electricity and SEEBOARD were bought and merged by the French supplier. In 2009, EDF also took over British Energy, a company responsible for the operation of eight of the UK’s ten nuclear power plants. EDF consequently became the largest energy generator in the country, with the majority of their supply coming from nuclear power plants. EDF’s energy is generated from the following sources:
- Nuclear 61.8%
- Coal 27.9%
- Natural Gas 5.7%
- Renewable 3.9%
- Other 0.7%
Although only a small percentage of EDF-generated energy comes from renewable sources, the company is keen to tackle the issue of Climate Change head-on. They are currently the UK’s biggest generator of low-carbon energy, which is largely due to their use of nuclear power. EDF have also made a number of sustainability commitments, promising to cut CO2 emissions, reduce waste and manage nuclear generation responsibly. If you’re environmentally conscious, EDF offer a variety of eco-friendly products and services to customers, including home insulation, Smart Meters and an EcoManager monitoring device, alongside free energy saving advice to both consumers and businesses.
Tariffs for consumers
EDF currently offer five tariffs for home energy supply: Standard (Variable), Green, Fix, Blue +Price Promise and Pay As You Go. All are available for dual fuel supply or electricity only.
The Standard (Variable) rate offers a number of options, with discounts available for dual fuel supply. Although you can pay bills by cash, cheque or credit card, the substantial discounts on offer for Direct Debit payment make this the most cost effective option. There is no minimum contract period or cancellation fee, giving you the freedom to change supplier whenever you want. Prices are subject to rate rises, but on average, this is still one of EDF’s cheapest tariffs.
If you’re concerned about Climate Change and the future of energy generation, Green could be the right choice for you. EDF operate the tariff by ‘replacing’ every unit of energy you use with energy generated from renewable sources, a process approved and certified by the Green Energy Scheme. Although this tariff is available to dual fuel customers, the Green elements only apply to your electricity bill. Discounts are also available if you choose to pay by Direct Debit.
EDF’s Fix tariff is a great choice is you want to protect yourself from price increases, with the company currently offering deals that freeze rates for well over two years. You manage your account online with no paper statements, while savings are available if you sign up for dual energy supply, or pay by Direct Debit.
Blue +Price Promise is an innovative new tariff from EDF that combines the benefits of many of their other packages. Similar to the Green tariff, EDF promise to match every unit of energy you consume with resupply from low-carbon nuclear sources, while you can also choose to use your electricity spend to off-set carbon emissions associated with your gas supply. Prices are fixed for a limited period, while the company also promises to notify you of any rival product that is cheaper by more than £1 per week. Your account is managed online, with no paper bills or statements. A dedicated webpage lets you carry out price comparisons against other suppliers, and if you choose to leave at any time, there is no cancellation fee.
Finally, EDF’s Pay As You Go prepayment tariff allows you to closely manage your energy spend, while offering a credit facility to cover you in emergencies. You’ll be charged at the same rates as a Standard (Variable) customer, and can use your key or card to top-up your account at any shop displaying the PayPoint logo. However, you’ll need to have a prepayment meter installed before you can begin using this tariff, so switching can take longer than other tariffs.