Bulb Energy Review

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As an independent digital marketeer I always back the small, underdog. Let’s be frank. For years the big four energy providers have continued to hike prices despite a torrid service. The introduction of new, online focused energy suppliers was a welcome introduction to an otherwise archaic business sector.

Furthermore, like me, many people wanted to go as ‘green’ as possible. Bulb provide 100% green electricity (10% gas) so you know when you side with Bulb you are contributing to the longevity of the environment.

Who are Bulb?

Bulb was started by two guys, Amit & Hayden, who both worked in the energy sector and were pained by terrible processes, customer service and the lack of transparency. It seems this level of inefficiency was ripe throughout these organisations and not just towards the customer base.

Bulb has only been around since 2015 yet they’ve made quite a mark on the energy industry. Regularly mentioned on MoneySavingExpert, The Guardian and other respected editorials (not you Daily Mail). They also have a glowing recommendation via their customers with a 9/10 rating on TrustPilot. It’s worth comparing this with the reviews of the big four energy providers for context.

How they work?

Bulb works a little differently from normal energy providers in that there’s only one tariff. This is variable dependant upon the wholesale cost of the energy. Essentially they are one of the cheapest providers of Green Energy but this is largely governed by the wholesale cost when they buy the energy.

Bulb are however open and transparent about this. A blog post from Amit in December highlights the rise in wholesale prices and a potential price rise in March 2018 (they buy energy three months in advance). This level of transparency from other providers is just unheard of.

The great thing about Bulb’s tariff is that there is no exit fee. Essentially if they had to up their prices significantly then you would be free to leave and find a more financially suitable package. I think this is unlikely as cheap, green electricity is their USP so I imagine price rises will be small and will largely affect Bulb’s margin as opposed to the consumers pocket.

Why make the switch?

There are so many reasons why you should make the switch but for me it came down to a number of factors:

Payment of exit fee:
Bulb will pay your exit fee from your previous supplier. This means you can make the switch without paying any nasty fees to your previous supplier.

£50 credit:
Bulb has a great referral scheme where if you join them via a link from a friend (or me) you receive £50 credit towards your energy and so does the referrer. This is great as it builds brand advocates and rapport between the customer base. This is something the large suppliers lack.

100% Green Electricity:
If you are environmentally conscious then the fact the electricity aspect of the energy is 100% green is a huge draw. Bulb only buy green electricity so you are safe in the knowledge this won’t change.

One tariff, no mess:
Energy suppliers with multiple tariffs are confusing. Fixed deals are used to lure you in and once the fixed deal ends you are placed on a much higher paying tariff. Many people go months without noticing this. Bulb is one variable tariff so when price changes occur they let you know.

No exit fees:
If the price of wholesale energy rises considerably and affects the price you pay then you can leave Bulb without paying any exit fees. Again this is great reassurance.

Is it green energy?

Bulb offer the lowest prices for 100% renewable electricity company in the UK.

When you switch to Bulb, as a company they make sure that for every unit of electricity you use, a unit is produced and put on the grid by a pollution free renewable source like Llyn Brenig Hydro in North Wales.

As somebody who is environmentally conscious this is a real green tick for me. Given my business is based from home I’m delighted that my business is powered by green energy and that my business practices are having a powerful impact on the environment.

Long term I would like Bulb to improve their gas renewable output. I’m aware that the gas process is far more expensive however 10% seems a little low and I believe customers would be open to paying more to improve that number.

What is the service like?

Bulb are known for their proactive, no jingle customer support. I’ve been with them a year and haven’t had to contact anybody from support in any capacity. Everything just works and the entire process of switching was a breeze.

Their email marketing is outstanding. As a digital marketeer it’s great to see modern email marketing and a friend like tone to all the emails. This is the exact opposite to the stiff, corporate feel you get from other energy suppliers.

Bulb tend to pop you an email across twice a month. One is a monthly payment reminder letting you know how much your direct debit is and another is an account update telling you how much you spent the previous month. There’s also a PDF statement if you want to really crunch the energy numbers (does anyone do that?)

Bulb also sent a Green Impact Report at the end of 2017 which highlighted my personal contribution to the environment in using green energy. This was a really nice touch, and not something I’ve seen from energy suppliers before.

Overall:

Bulb is an overall wonderful experience as an energy provider. In the past I’ve had some real painful moments when switching energy providers however Bulb have made this a breeze. Here are the pros and cons of the service I have experienced so far:

Pros:

• Beautiful online interface
• Pro-active email marketing reminders
• Environmentally friendly energy
• Respectable prices
• No exit fees
• Openness and transparency
• £50 account credit if you use this link.

Cons:

• Variable so wholesale price hikes could affect how much you pay
• 10% renewable gas could be better