Utility Warehouse brands itself as the nation’s most trusted utility supplier. Spending no money on advertising and instead relying on word-of-mouth through its partnership scheme, which has come under criticism from some corners of the media, it has still managed to attract more than 650,000 customers to sign up.
Who Is Utility Warehouse Energy?
One of the largest, if not the largest contender to the major energy providers, Utility Warehouse must be getting something right to be attracting so many customers mostly through word-of-mouth. Its offer is based on bundling all of your monthly utilities into one bill, reducing the hassle involved with utilities and saving customers money.
Utility Warehouse’s lack of spending on advertising is made up for by a tactic of multi-level marketing through which people can join up as “partners” in order to earn commission by attracting others to sign up to its services. Around 45,000 partners are currently involved in the scheme.
Who Owns Utility Warehouse Energy?
Utility Warehouse is owned and operated by Telecom Plus plc, which at one stage also had a 20% stake in Opus Energy - this stake was sold in 2017. Utility Warehouse is now the only energy provider owned by the company.
Telecom Plus is based in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is licensed and regulated by Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator.
Utility Warehouse Reviews
A quick look at the consumer review website Trustpilot will tell you that Utility Warehouse reviews are positive. Out of almost 21,000 reviews, almost two-thirds give Utility Warehouse the best score of 5 stars, while more than three quarters of reviewers record having had a positive experience.
Positive reviews for Utility Warehouse tend to focus on the simplicity and value of its offer, as well as friendly and helpful customer service agents:
Any queries or concerns I have had with my account is always dealt with promptly and kindly.
Utility Warehouse Trustpilot
Trustpilot normally attracts customers that have been left disgruntled by their service and want to complain, so it's encouraging to see a good amount of positivity relating to Utility Warehouse, scoring an overall 4.1 out of 5.
Not everyone is singing Utility Warehouse’s praises, of course, with roughly 20% of reviewers reporting having had a bad time of it. Negative Utility Warehouse reviews report unexpected rises in customers’ bills, as well as occasional reports of mistakes on the provider’s part leading to serious problems for some customers:
Since being with UW I have had nothing but stress, worry and problems. From the awful communication or lack of to the ridiculous priced bills due to 'a wrong meter reading' when I moved house to give a £300 bill for ONE month.
If customers’ bills are being put up significantly and unexpectedly, this could be a major problem. It’s the last thing you want to be dealing with. It does seem, however, that these instances are isolated and in the minority and that the general experience is good, so we don't think you're any more likely to experience it with Utility Warehouse than you are with other providers.
Utility Warehouse Which? Reviews
To back this assumption up, it's encouraging to note that Utility Warehouse performed well in Which?'s most recent survey of energy customers (taken in September 2021), scoring 68% overall and ranking 3rd of the 18 providers included in the survey. The provider scored an average of 3 out of 5 stars for bill accuracy, which actually puts it among the best performers in this regard.
Utility Warehouse Customer Service
Utility Warehouse customer service continues to do well compared to other energy companies, scoring 4 out of 5 stars on Which?’s review. This is also backed up with customer service reviews on Trustpilot the majority of which are positive.
What Utility Warehouse Tariffs Are There?
Utility Warehouse guarantees to be cheaper than the average of the cheapest variable tariffs from the Big Six, adjusting the price you pay throughout your deal so as to keep this promise. This way, it says, you’ll never have to switch again. Many customers, however, report seeing their bill go up, so is Utility Warehouse keeping its promise.
Utility Warehouse offers two variable tariffs which are based on combining your energy bill with other utilities. Here’s what you can sign up for, along with estimates based on a three-bedroom house in London with medium usage:
| Tariff | Variable | Value Tariff (Energy Only) | Gold Tariff (2 Services) | Double Gold Tariff (4 Services) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | £1,971 | £1,961 | £1,922 | £1,872 |
| Monthly Cost | £164 | £163.43 | £160.41 | £156.04 |
Source: Utility Warehouse. Last updated April 2022.
It’s clear that its biggest selling point lies in bundling energy, broadband and mobile utilities together into one bill, so we would recommend going all the way and getting Double Gold. This tariff does indeed offer good savings when compared to the price cap for dual-fuel, which many major providers put their prices up to match as it fluctuates.
Utility Warehouse also offers fixed equivalents to both of the above tariffs. Find out more about the provider's tariffs on our Utility Warehouse Tariffs guide.
Free LED Light Bulb Service
There is an added incentive for those interested in adding home phone and broadband to their energy deal in the shape of Utility Warehouse’s free light bulb replacement service. Those who add this service will receive the latest energy-efficient light bulbs, which are typically worth £300 to £500, and free replacement bulbs for life.
Efficient light bulbs can save you money as well as being free of charge, energy-saving light bulbs can save you as much as 15% on your electricity bill. They certainly deserve the Selectra tick.
Utility Warehouse Broadband
Unlike other energy suppliers, Utility Warehouse also offers broadband packages either included in your energy tariff or separately. When you sign up for one of the Utility Warehouse energy tariffs, you are also offered to add a broadband package that will discount your energy.
Utility Warehouse offers two broadband packages that came be included with your energy tariffs:
| Details | Ultra | Ultra+ |
|---|---|---|
| Average Download Speed | 38 Mbps | 69 Mbps |
| Price per Month | £31 | £24 |
| Contract Length | 18 months | 18 months |
The price of the broadband contract varies according to whether you choose to include it with an energy tariff and include mobile and insurance.
Utility Warehouse Mobile
As well as broadband, there are also Utility Warehouse mobile deals that are available to customers who sign up with their energy. These are sim-only plans that on offer for either unlimited and value for money deals.
Utility Warehouse Fuel Mix
Like all energy providers, Utility Warehouse is obliged by law to disclose its fuel mix so that customers can see where the energy it uses to power their homes comes from. Here is the most recent data published by the provider:
Souce: Utility Warehouse. Last updated April 2022.
When compared with the national average, Utility Warehouse falls short in terms of its use of renewable energy. With the average now over a third and several companies offering 100% renewable tariffs, a proportion of less than 10% will be disappointing to many potential customers.
Pair the above with almost double the use of coal than the national average and considerably more reliance on natural gas, Utility Warehouse’s fuel sourcing is more than three-quarters unsustainable. We hope to see this improve in its next fuel mix declaration.
What Is the Utility Warehouse Contact Number?
If you’re looking a Utility Warehouse contact, there are a few different ways depending on what your issue is and whether or not you’re already a Utility Warehouse customer. If you’re not yet a member and you’re interested in signing up, the number you need is this one:
| Utility Warehouse department | Contact number | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Enquiries | 0333 777 0777 | Monday to Friday: 9am to 5.30pm; Saturday: 9am to 4.30pm |
Calls to Utility Warehouse are charged at the same rate as a standard landline or mobile call.
If you don’t want to be put on hold and to wait for an agent to take your call, you can request a callback using the callback sheet on the Utility Warehouse website, leaving a time when it’s convenient for you.
Utility Warehouse Email
You may not want to speak to a person at all - in this case, perhaps your query has already been addressed in the Frequently Asked Questions section of its website. Several common issues have been posted there and it may be that you can solve your problem without the help of an agent.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a dedicated Utility Warehouse email to use, so you will have to use their contact form to fill in the information about your enquiry. For full details on contacting Utility Warehouse, including all the different numbers for members and separate issues, see our dedicated Utility Warehouse Contact guide.
Utility Warehouse App
The Utility Warehouse app allows you to manage your account from your phone. You can download the Utility Warehouse app from either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Simply access your account with your Utility Warehouse email login and you will be able manage everything that you can on your online account.
Utility Warehouse Clubhouse
The Utility Warehouse Clubhouse is a rewards scheme that customers can join in order to get cashback off their monthly energy bill. Utility Warehouse breaks down the Clubhouse process into three steps:
- Search: Browse over 2,000 stores included in the Clubhouse catalogue.
- Spend: Make the purchases you would normally make at these stores, earning up to 10% cashback as you go.
- Save: The cashback you earn in Clubhouse stores will be deducted from your monthly utility bill.
Utility Warehouse Cashback Stores
Stores involved in the scheme include Boots, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Debenhams, Argos, Expedia, Hotels.com, Halfords, Thorntons, and several more that you may well spend quite a lot of money in.
In almost none of these shops, however, does the cashback amount reach 10%. In the majority of stores, the amount you’ll get back on your purchases is less than 5%, but if you regularly buy in several of the shops included in the scheme it could well save you quite a lot of money over the course of the month.
Ready to sign up? You can register for the Clubhouse for free as a Utility Warehouse customer via its registration portal. To sign up, you’ll need to provide your Utility Warehouse membership number, so make sure you have it to hand.
Utility Warehouse Clubhouse Login
Utility Warehouse customers can manage their account via the UW Clubhouse app. This is the same app used to manage the reward scheme, so you’ll have to register for it even if you’re not interested in earning cashback if you want to manage your energy account via your smartphone.
The Clubhouse app allows you to do the following while you’re on the go:
- Provide meter readings quickly and easily
- Find local stores to get cashback in and manage your CashBack card
- Check your mobile usage (if your deal includes mobile)
- Take a look at your bill summary
It’s not the widest selection of functions we’ve ever seen in an app, but it seems to cover all the necessities. It also seems to work pretty well, getting decent reviews of 3 and 3.1 stars in the App Store and Google Play respectively. For more information or to download the Clubhouse app, head over to the Utility Warehouse website.
Utility Warehouse Partner Portal
The Utility Warehouse partner portal is for those customers who have also become partners through UW’s multi-level marketing scheme. On the Utility Warehouse partner portal, you can manage your business and find potential leads to introduce new customers to Utility Warehouse.
How Do I Submit Utility Warehouse Meter Readings?
If you have a smart meter, you don’t need to worry about taking your meter reading - Utility Warehouse will take it automatically every 30 days. Utility Warehouse does provide its members with smart meters - you can find out how to book an appointment for one further down this page.
If, however, you don’t yet have a smart meter installed, Utility Warehouse has a number of resources available to help you on its website, including a how-to video and a downloadable guide on providing meter readings. Here are the ways you can provide Utility Warehouse with your readings:
- Via the Clubhouse online
- Via the Clubhouse mobile app
- Over the phone on 0333 777 0 999
When you submit your meter reading, you’ll need your membership number and your meter reference number to hand as well as the reading itself. Utility Warehouse says that the best place to give a meter reading is through their Clubhouse App.
Utility Warehouse Smart meters
Utility Warehouse offers smart meters to its members, and once its meter installers are operating in your area you can book your UW smart meter online using the following steps:
- Log into the Clubhouse via the UW website
- Click through to the Energy section
- Click the box that reads ‘Book your appointment’
You will then be asked a few questions about your home so that installation can be adapted to your space and needs. Once this is done, you’ll be able to choose an installation date that works for you.
No ‘book an appointment’ option available? Don’t worry, this just means that meter installers are not yet operating in your area. If this is the case, you can instead register your interest in having a smart meter installed and Utility Warehouse will notify you when your installation can take place.
Utility Warehouse Warm Home Discount
Utility Warehouse does provide customers with the Warm Home Discount. Whereas members of the Core Group receive the discount automatically, those eligible for the Broad Group have to apply every year to Utility Warehouse in order to have it deducted from their bill.
Core Group recipients of the discount should have received their £140 discount automatically. If you think you qualify for the scheme under the Core Group but have not yet received the discount, you should contact the Department of Work and Pensions on 0333 777 0999 - its lines are open weekdays from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Utility Warehouse Moving Home
Utility Warehouse is keen to keep you as a customer when you move to a new property, and so it has a dedicated home movers team that you can reach on 0333 777 0999 if you want to take your UW deal with you.
Moving home can, however, be an opportunity for you to take a glance at the market and see if you could be saving on your energy bills.
Disclaimer: The services and products mentioned on this website may only represent a small selection of the options available to you. Selectra encourages you to carry out your own research and seek advice if necessary before making any decisions. We may receive commission from selected partner providers on sales of some products and/or services mentioned within this website. Our website is free to use, and the commission we receive does not affect our opinion or the information we provide.
Read more articles about Utility Warehouse
Utility Warehouse Tariffs 2022: Tariffs, Prices & Rates
Utility Warehouse contact number: help & complaints
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