Utility Warehouse in 2022: Prices, Reviews and Contact Details

What makes Utility Warehouse different?

Utility Warehouse is unique among energy suppliers in a couple of ways. For starters, aside from, being an energy company, it is also a Multi-Level-Marketing scheme. Much like Avon or Kleeneze. Except that instead of selling goods by going from door to door, partners make commission by referring people to sign up to the brand’s utility bundles.

Who are Utility Warehouse?

Utility Warehouse was founded in 2002 and is based in London. As an MLM company, it relies on word-of-mouth promotion from partner customers rather than conventional advertising. It has around 45,000 partners acting as independent distributors who spread the good word about Utility Warehouse’s offerings.

The brand promises that its atypical setup can offer both convenience and savings to its customers.

Who are Utility Warehouse suppliers

Suppliers or partners are Utility Warehouse customers who choose to make money by evangelising its services and sign people up to its utility bundles. As with any MLM company, referrals generate a commission, and partners can build their own teams of suppliers.

Who owns Utility Warehouse?

Utility Warehouse is owned by parent company, Telecom Plus PLC.

Are Utility Warehouse any good?

Utility Warehouse has a great deal of positive sentiment from both customers and partners. At the time of writing, they enjoy a score of 4.0 on Trustpilot and are ranked as a “Great” supplier.

They also have a modest but eclectic range of tariffs that are substantially lower than the energy price cap. However, in order to get the best savings, you may want to look into a bigger utility bundle. If you have a good experience with the brand and want to spread the good word, becoming a member can be lucrative, however, it can take a long time before you start to make real money from it.

But are they right for you?

Let’s find out by looking first at what matters the most to many energy consumers. Their tariffs and prices.

Utility Warehouse tariffs & prices

At Papernest, we know that cheaper energy isn’t just about finding the right supplier, but about finding the right tariff as well.

Utility Warehouse have a fairly modest range of tariffs, alongside potentially money-saving phone and broadband bundles. All the unit rates and standing charges below are based on UK averages. Your rates may differ, based on whereabouts in the country you live. Monthly and annual costs are based on average UK energy consumption of 2,090 kWh of electricity and 12,000 kWh of gas per year.

Let’s take a look at what they have to offer…

Below you can find the cost information associated with these tariffs.

Utility Warehouse Variable Rate Tariffs

Utility Warehouse has one standard variable tariff available for offer. Variable rates imply that you can switch to a different supplier without costs. However, your rates might fluctuate according to the market rates.

The costs associated with this tariff can be seen here:

Utility Warehouse Fixed Rate Tariffs

Utility Warehouse offers 1 fixed rate tariff plans, you can see the details in the table below.

The pricing on these tariffs can be seen here:

Utility Warehouse Prepaid Tariffs

Utility Warehouse also has prepayment tariffs. With prepayment meters you top up your credit and then depending on your usage your credit decreases slowly or fastly.

Costs associated with this tariff plan can be seen here:

Utility Warehouse Economy 7 Tariffs

Utility Warehouse also provides Economy 7 plans if you have a Economy 7 Meter.

As mentioned previously, these tariffs have two separate unit rates, one for peak hours of consumption and another for off-peak.

Pricing on these tariffs can be seen here:

Utility Warehouse Double Gold

Utility Warehouse also offers a “double gold” bundle. Again, this can be applied to any of its energy tariffs. It offers the same call rates as above, as well as some extra perks including:

• Free Gourmet Society Card
• Free Mobile Phone Protection Scheme
• 'Double the Difference' Price Promise when you join their Discount Club

Utility Warehouse will even pay your early exit fee if you end your existing fixed-rate tariff early to join this plan. Up to the value of £100 per fuel.

Do Utility Warehouse do business tariffs?

Yes, Utility Warehouse also offer special business rates for commercial customers. They offer flexible contracts as well as a contribution of up to £200 if you want to get out of your existing contract early.

Like most suppliers, Utility Warehouse does not advertise its business rates, as these are negotiated on an individual basis. Rates are dependent on a number of factors, including:

• Your business location/s
• The size of your business
• How much energy you use, and which fuels
• Your peak energy load hours

You can get a quote by visiting Utility Warehouse’s Business Customer page or calling 0333 777 3252.

Do Utility Warehouse have smart meters? What smart meters do they offer?

Yes, Utility Warehouse offers smart meters to new and existing customers. The company doesn’t explicitly state what kind of smart meters it offers. However, it does state in its smart meter FAQ page that customers with smart meters will still be able to switch energy suppliers after installation. This implies that they offer second-generation or SMETS2 smart meters.

Don’t forget that when you’re ready to switch plans, the Papernest team can help you to find the perfect tariff to match your changing circumstances.

How to apply for the Warm Home Discount with Utility Warehouse

If you’re of pension age (core group) or in receipt of income-related benefits (broader group), you may be eligible for the Warm Home Discount. This is a government initiative that is facilitated by energy suppliers. It offers a flat £140 discount on energy in the colder months between September and March.

To see if you are eligible or to make an application for 2021 / 2022, click here.

Utility Warehouse customer reviews: What do their customers say?

At the time of writing, Utility Warehouse enjoys very positive customer sentiment, with an overall customer score of 4.0 out of 5 on its Trustpilot page. This puts the supplier at the upper end of “Great” and a step away from “Excellent”.

Utility Warehouse currently has 15,014 customer reviews. Of which:

• 9,729 (65%) were “Excellent”
• 1,996 (13%) were “Great”
• 589 (4%) were “Average”
• 454 (3%) were “Poor”
• 2,276 (3%) were “Bad”

Positive reviews cite clear communication and a high standard of customer service. Quick and easy issue resolution was also a recurring factor, as were value for money and ease of switching. A number of partners also stated that they had positive experiences with the brand, supplementing their income by incentivising people to switch to Utility Warehouse.

Negative reviews, on the other hand, focused on billing inaccuracies, difficulties getting a callback, and pushy sales calls. A couple of partners also documented negative experiences and a lack of support from the brand.

How green is Utility Warehouse?

Utility Warehouse offers 100% renewable energy on its fixed-rate tariffs. Between this and the planting of trees for every new sign-up to the Green Fixed tariff, this is a great step in the right direction. As is the distribution of energy-saving bulbs.

However, offering a green energy tariff does not necessarily make a green supplier. It’s also about looking at the fuels that they use to generate their energy.

Utility Warehouse energy fuel mix

Although they have renewable energy tariffs, Utility Warehouse does not have a completely renewable energy fuel mix. In fact, most of its energy comes from burning natural gas. While this is cleaner than burning coal or oil, it still has a higher carbon footprint than renewables like solar, wind and hydropower.

You can see their full energy fuel mix in the table below:

Contacting Utility Warehouse

As well as looking at their energy prices and renewability, you need to know how easy it is to contact a prospective energy supplier. After all, cheap renewable energy is great. But it’s less easy to appreciate it when you’re waiting on hold for the better part of an hour to speak to a human being.

An independent survey found that customers rated Utility Warehouse 3 out of 5 stars for customer service. A snapshot test found that it took them just 2 minutes 16 seconds to answer the phone. When requesting email contact, this took 2 days 14 hours.

You can contact Utility Warehouse by calling 0333 777 0777. Phone lines are open from 9am to 5:30pm during the week and 9am to 4:30pm on Saturdays. Alternatively, you can fill out the form on the contact page and a member of the customer service team will get back to you.

Deaf or speech-impaired customers can email deafmemberservices@uw.co.uk.

Utility Warehouse: How to pay

The cheapest and easiest way to pay your energy bill with Utility Warehouse is to set up a direct debit. However, you can also pay monthly by credit or debit card via their website or through their Clubhouse app. You can also pay by BACS transfer or by cheque / postal order.

How to refer a friend to Utility Warehouse

Most energy suppliers have a referral scheme that gives you cashback off your next bill by referring a friend. However, as an MLM scheme, you can only refer a friend by becoming a partner. However, depending on how long your referral spends with the company, there’s scope for much higher earnings. Partners can earn up to £370 for every new customer that they sign up. Click here to find out more about the partner scheme.

How to complain about Utility Warehouse

If you have a complaint about Utility Warehouse, you can either call them on 0333 777 0777, or write to:

Utility Warehouse Ltd
508 Edgware Road
The Hyde
London

NW9 5AB

How to switch to Utility Warehouse

If you think Utility Warehouse might be the supplier for you, get in touch with the Papernest team today. We can find the perfect Utility Warehouse tariff to suit your needs and usage. We’ll even manage your switch from end-to-end so you can enjoy cheaper energy and utility bundle deals faster and completely 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 to learn more:

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

FAQ

When was Utility Warehouse founded?

Utility Warehouse was first founded in 2002 by Telecom Plus. The brand was created to encompass all of its residential energy, telephony and broadband offerings.

Where is Utility Warehouse based?

Utility Warehouse is based in London, with a headquarters in Colindale North London. Utility Warehouse Home Services (which handles meter installations and repairs) is based in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

How much does Utility Warehouse charge per kWh?

This depends on the tariff you choose, and your meter type. Unit rates for gas and electricity are as follows:

• Variable Value- 16.829p electricity. 2,994p for gas.
• Green Fixed- 17.542p electricity. 3.024p gas.
• Prepay- 16.471p electricity. 2.865p gas.

How many customers does Utility Warehouse have?

At the time of writing, Utility Warehouse has approximately 650,000 customers, and 45,000 partners.

How often do Utility Warehouse bill?

Utility Warehouse bills can be sent either monthly or quarterly. If you pay by monthly direct debit, your direct debit should be checked every 3 months to ensure that it matches your usage.

How long does it take to switch to Utility Warehouse?

With the Papernest team managing your switch, you can have your new energy tariff set up within 15 days. So you can start saving on your utilities faster!