Bristol Energy in 2022: Prices, Reviews and Contact Details

At Papernest, we pride ourselves in matching every household that uses our service with the perfect energy tariff. Let’s see what makes Bristol Energy worthy of your hard-earned money…

What makes Bristol Energy different?

Bristol Energy is one of a number of municipally-owned energy companies across the country. Municipally-owned energy companies are advantageous to energy consumers who care about ethics and renewability. Because they are completely beholden to their customers rather than taxpayers, they can potentially deliver green energy at better prices than their privately-owned counterparts. As well as offering 100% renewable energy, Bristol Energy offers carbon-neutral biomethane gas. This comes from Bristol’s municipal sewerage systems. Or, as Bristol Energy playfully calls it, “poo power”.

Like many municipal energy suppliers, Bristol Energy was bought by a private company in late 2020. Nonetheless, the Bristol Energy brand has not been affected. It still retains the same tariffs, prices and strong focus on delivering clean energy and supporting local communities.

Who are Bristol Energy?

Bristol Energy is one of the few municipal energy suppliers still remaining today. It was founded in 2015 as a direct response to the rising prices and profiteering of private energy companies. It is committed not only to delivering renewable energy but combating fuel poverty, and investing in community projects. To date, the brand has added £12,000,000 of social value back to the city.

Who owns Bristol Energy?

Bristol Energy is now owned by Together Energy. Despite this, the brand remains active, and Bristol Energy is no less committed to its green energy and social targets.

Are Bristol Energy any good?

Despite their new ownership, Bristol Energy is still an excellent choice or those looking for an affordable, renewable, ethical energy supplier. Bristol Energy may no longer be under municipal ownership, but it still strives to deliver on its promises to its customers in the wake of the acquisition by Together Energy. With green energy at reasonable prices and a strong investment in local communities, customers know that the money they spend on their energy is doing real good.

The Papernest team understand that every energy consumer has slightly different criteria for how they define a “good” supplier. So let’s see how Bristol Energy measure up in the ways that matter most to you…

Bristol Energy tariffs & prices

Bristol Energy offers relatively modest range of tariffs that’s easy for newcomers to understand. Nonetheless, there’s something there for everyone, with two fixed-rate tariffs and one variable tariff. Take a look at the range of tariffs and the energy costs for each.

Monthly / annual energy costs provided are based on national average consumption. Energy suppliers currently specify this as 2,900 kWh of electricity and 12,000 kWh of gas per year.

Of course your bills will vary if your usage is significantly more or less.

All costs are inclusive of VAT at 5%.

BE Standard Green

This is Bristol Energy’s variable-rate tariff. It offers 100% renewable electricity and 50% carbon-neutral gas.

You can see the rates and standing charges in the table below:

BE Simply Green

The first (and best value) of Bristol Energy’s fixed-rate tariffs, this also offers 100% renewable electricity and 50% carbon-neutral gas with prices locked in for 12 months. Uncommonly for a fixed-rate tariff, it has no early exit fees, so you can switch suppliers at any time.

You can see the rates and standing charges in the table below:

• Estimated monthly costs: £82
• Estimated annual costs: £984
• Early exit fee: N/A

BE Super Green January ‘23

This is Bristol Energy’s greenest tariff with 100% renewable and 100% carbon-offset gas. It also offers great value for money, given that prices are locked in for 25 months with no early exit fees.

Rates are as follows:

• Estimated monthly costs: £83
• Estimated annual costs: £996
• Early exit fee: N/A

Is Bristol Energy really cheaper?

Bristol Energy certainly has the potential to be cheaper than you’re currently paying for your gas and electricity. Your annual spend on all of its current tariffs will be below the Ofgem energy price cap which currently sits at £1,042 per year for both gas and electricity. This is expected to rise in April 2021, so it’s definitely worth considering a fixed-rate tariff at present as variable rate plans may rise in line with the price cap.

Bristol Energy: what other services do they offer?

Bristol Energy is deeply invested in using “profits for purpose”. As well as delivering energy, it is also heavily invested in supporting community projects in and around Bristol, supporting the growth of local businesses, creating jobs, and supporting ambitious initiatives to combat fuel poverty.

Do Bristol Energy do business tariffs?

Bristol Energy have previously offered business energy tariffs. However, since the acquisition by Together Energy, Bristol Energy’s business customers have been moved to Yü Energy. You can get a business energy quote from them by clicking here.

Do Bristol Energy have smart meters? What smart meters do they offer?

Yes, Bristol Energy offer smart meters to both new and existing customers.

A smart meter can be a fantastic way to reduce your energy spend as it transmits your usage data directly your supplier without the need to take or submit meter readings of your own. You also get an In Home Display (IHD) device to help you to better track your usage in real-time.

Bristol Energy offers both first-generation SMETS1 meters and second-generation SMETS2 meters, depending on where you live.

Traditionally, the disadvantage of first-generation smart meters is that they cease to transmit your usage when you switch energy suppliers. However, Bristol Energy is working on a remote upgrade to mitigate this which should be rolled out to all customers by the end of 2021.

How to apply for the Warm Home Discount with Bristol Energy

Bristol Energy voluntarily participates in the Warm Home Discount scheme. However, they can only offer this to customers in the “core group” i.e. energy consumers of pensionable age.

The Warm Home Discount entitles vulnerable energy consumers to a flat discount of £140 discount on their bills through the colder months from September to March.

You can check your eligibility and make an application by visiting Bristol Energy’s support page.

Bristol Energy customer reviews: What do their customers say?

At Papernest, we understand that the value of energy companies is best measured by the customers who use them.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at what Bristol Energy’s customers have to say about the brand.

At the time of writing, Bristol Energy’s Trustpilot page has a total of 1,856 customer reviews, and an aggregate customer score of 3.4 out of 5. This puts them in the middle of the “Average” band.

Reviews are a very mixed bag. Of the 1,856 reviews left by customers:

• 977 (53%) were “Excellent”
• 300 (16%) were “Great”
• 97 (5%) were “Average”
• 80 (4%) were “Poor”
• 402 (22%) were “Bad”

Although reviews are fairly mixed, a 69% majority of customers give Bristol Energy a rating of either “Great” or “Excellent”.

Positive reviewers focus on helpful and patient customer service staff, good value for money, and ease of managing their account online. Some reviewers mention specific members of the customer service team by name, which tends to indicate that someone has gone above and beyond.

Negative reviews, on the other hand, point to length issue resolution, difficulty getting in touch with the customer service team, miscommunications, and billing errors. To their credit, Bristol Energy have responded to 97% of negative customer reviews in the platform, typically providing a response within 24 hours.

How green is Bristol Energy?

Bristol Energy is one of the UK’s many green energy suppliers, exclusively delivering 100% renewable energy. The brand is invested in a combination of direct power purchase agreements, purchases from local renewable generators (via Feed in Tariffs and the Smart Export Guarantee), green energy certificates and investment in low-carbon solutions.

Bristol Energy energy fuel mix

Bristol Energy offers 100% renewable energy from a combination of wind, solar and hydropower. It does not, however, list the exact percentages of this on the website.

Contacting Bristol Energy

The Papernest team understand that while cheap, renewable energy is attractive, it’s of little consolation when you’re having trouble getting in touch with your supplier. Nobody wants to spend their precious time waiting on hold to speak to a customer service advisor.

You can contact Bristol Energy by calling 0808 281 2222. Lines are open from 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday. An independent survey last year found that on average the company took 3 minutes and 45 seconds to answer the phone.

Or, if you prefer, you can email them at customercare@bristol-energy.co.uk.

Bristol Energy: How to pay

As with most energy suppliers, the quickest and easiest way to pay your Bristol Energy bill is via direct debit. Booking a smart meter installation, or taking monthly meter readings, will ensure that your direct debits match your usage.

Alternatively, if you prefer to pay monthly, you can do this via credit or debit card through your customer portal on the website, or over the phone. You can also pay in cash, cheque or postal order at any PayPoint or Payzone location, or at your local post office. You can also pay by bank transfer.

How to refer a friend to Bristol Energy

Bristol Energy has a great referral scheme. Every time you refer a friend, not only do you (and they) get £20, Bristol Energy also donates £20 to its Fuel Good Fund which supports local communities and the environment. So you can do some good while also helping friends save money.
To refer a friend, simply give them your 9 digit account number, and ask them to enter it into the “marketing code” box when signing up online, or to give it to a member of the team if signing up over the phone.

How to complain about Bristol Energy

If you have a comment or complaint about Bristol Energy, you can submit it to the team over the phone or via email. They will then have 8 weeks to resolve the complaint to your satisfaction. If they are unable to do this within 8 weeks, you can submit your complaint to the energy ombudsman service.

How to switch to Bristol Energy

Don’t make the switch to Bristol Energy without getting in touch with the Papernest team first!

Our energy industry experts can take the time to find the perfect Bristol Energy tariff for your household’s unique needs. We’ll even manage your switch from end-to-end, so you can enjoy cheaper, greener energy faster and 100% hassle-free.

Want to know more?

Call us today on 0330 818 6225.

We’re available from 8am to 6pm.

Would you like to know more about energy suppliers in the UK? Great! Check out these related articles

1. British Gas
2. Scottish Power
3. Eon
4. Octopus Energy

FAQ

When was Bristol Energy founded?

Bristol Energy was first founded in 2015. Although it was initially under municipal ownership, it has now been acquired by Together Energy.

Will the acquisition by Together Energy affect my energy tariff?

No. You can still enjoy the same Bristol Energy tariff and the same prices. As far as you, the customer, is concerned, nothing has changed. The Bristol Energy brand is still active.

How much does Bristol Energy charge per kWh?

This depends on the tariff you choose. Unit rates for gas and electricity for all available tariffs are listed below:

• BE Standard Green- 16.76p per kWh. 2.97p gas.
• BE Simply Green- 15.52p electricity. 3.10p gas.
• BE Super Green- 15.61p electricity. 3.17p gas.

How many customers does Bristol Energy have?

At the time of writing, Bristol Energy has around 65,000 active energy customers. Don’t let the name fool you. These customers aren’t just based in Bristol, but all over the UK

How often do Bristol Energy bill?

Bristol Energy sends energy bills on a monthly basis, or will send a monthly statement of account if you pay by direct debit. If you choose to pay in this way, Papernest recommends submitting meter readings on a monthly basis (or at least every 3 months) to ensure that your direct debits are as accurate as possible.

How long does it take to switch to Bristol Energy?

With the Papernest team behind you? Quick as a flash! We manage your switch from end-to-end, so you can start enjoying your new cheaper, greener Bristol Energy tariff within just 15 days.