E.ON is a global utility company belonging to the UK’s Big Six, or the six major energy suppliers in the country. Headquartered in Essen, Germany, E.ON acquired UK energy firm Powergen back in 2002 and planted its roots in the markt. It now flits between being the 2nd and 3rd largest supplier among the Big Six.
Take a look into the energy supplier’s current position in the industry and information regarding its fuel mix, prices, and other consumer-related data.
E.ON: An Overview
E.ON delivers smart and sustainable energy solutions, being the first of the Big Six to switch its customers in Great Britain to renewable electricity. The company is known for operating one of the largest investor-owned electric utility providers in the world. It runs in over 30 countries, serving over 33 million customers.
In the UK, E.ON holds 12% of the electricity market share (as of Q2 2019), docking 1% from 2018’s figure. On the gas side, the company had a market share of 10% in 2019. E.ON has about five million customers in the UK today.
According to the annual customer survey conducted by Which?, E.ON has received an overall satisfaction score of 61% from members of the public. The study was conducted in September 2019 and involved 839 E.ON customers.
As for its fuel mix, the company had entirely switched to 100% renewable resources for more than three million customers in July 2019. Before the change, E.ON relied mostly on natural gas (53.5%), renewables (16.7%), nuclear (16.2%), coal (10.1%), and other fuels (3.5%).
E.ON received four-star ratings for the accuracy of bills and complaints handling, doing relatively better than some of the other major suppliers. However, customers are not all happy with the company’s digital tools and bill clarity, with complaints about phone calls taking an average of 548 seconds waiting time. Some customers also firmly believe that E.ON’s value for money is mediocre.
The energy firm hadn’t encountered any violations with the Ofgem since 2015 when the regulator imposed a financial penalty of £7.75 million in an overcharging raid.
In June 2018, E.ON announced a price rise of 4.8% for its standard variable tariff (SVT) and dual fuel customers, which took effect in August of the same year. It was followed by another price increase in February 2019, raising the SVT by 10% due to Ofgem augmenting the price cap.
As with other energy suppliers, E.ON announced a price decrease back in August 2019 after the regulator lowered the price cap for SVTs. The price drop took effect in October, which slashed about £77 in customer’s bills.
Key Points to Consider for Home Users
E.ON offers a variety of tariffs that suit a customer’s requirement and financial capacity. To know more, interested applicants can call 247 619 2000 or visit their website at www.eonenergy.com, although you might have trouble viewing it if you are outside the UK.
For customers wanting to switch to E.ON, it takes 17 days to complete the process, which requires only the first meter readings during the time the company will contact them. If they are on a smart meter (SMETS2), switching does not affect the intelligent functionality and, therefore, can be used regardless of the supplier.
General complaints can be sent to the company via its Contact Us form or through reaching 0345 052 0000.
As with other suppliers, E.ON offers multiple payment channels, such as through Direct Debit, by check or cash via bank or Post Office, or through the mobile app.
Key Points to Consider for Business Users
E.ON advises users to contact 0345 055 0065 for concerns relating to business accounts.
Business customers can avail of a direct debit discount on fixed-price contracts. The back-billing period for the company is set at 12 months, which can be accessed through its online account management functionality. Fixed price contracts include third-party charges such as the RO, CFD and FIT.
Green energy is also an option for business customers of E.ON. Some tariffs are backed by carbon offsetting to ensure that clean energy goes back to the grid even when green energy is unavailable.
