Important info
Spark went out of business in 2018 and its customers were taken on by parent company OVO Energy.
Summary
Spark Energy, a smaller, independent energy supplier has been taken over by OVO Energy. Some of the key features of this supplier were:
- First energy supplier to be built around the rental property market
- Partnered with OVO Energy
- Clever mobile app allowed you to pay bills, check usage, and view account history
- Customer rating indicated room for improvement
Spark Energy company introduction
Spark Energy was an independent supplier in the UK that offered affordable tariffs and energy deals to its consumers. Since its foundation, it grew fast, supplying gas and electricity to around 290,000 domestic customers across the UK before ceasing trading. Spark positioned itself as the only energy supplier to be built around the rental property market. In addition to energy deals, Spark also provided phone, broadband and TV contracts for tenants. Spark was recently bought over by OVO Energy, and its customers have now been moved over.
Spark Energy fuel mix
It's important to know where your supplier gets their energy from:
Tariffs offered by Spark Energy
Spark Energy offered gas, electricity, as well as dual fuel tariffs. Their plans were designed to be easy to switch, since they focused mostly on rental properties. Though not the cheapest in the market, Spark’s tariffs were reasonably priced, and offered a range of options depending on your needs. Two of their most popular tariffs were:
Move in Saver Tariff
This was a Pay-As-You-Go tariff that was targeted towards people who had just moved into a new property. Prices for energy under this tariff were variable and fluctuated with market prices. But on the plus side, you didn't have to pay any exit fees when switching to a new provider. A slight variant of this tariff, the Move in Saver Direct Debit tariff, offered customers a discount if paying by Direct Debit.
Fixed Saver Tariff
A fixed-rate tariff that guaranteed the amount you will pay for the price of energy, the Fixed Saver tariff was an ideal option in case you are on a tight budget and didn't have the time to monitor energy prices. Prices for energy under this tariff were guaranteed until June 2021, which gave you greater flexibility. However, you may have had to pay exit fees for switching from this tariff.
Spark Energy reviews and customer perception
Spark Energy ranked 33 out of 35 suppliers in the annual Which? customer satisfaction survey. Although its prices weree not the most expensive, consumers said that their services offered less value for money, and that sometimes you may have ended up paying hidden charges. Apart from this, Spark Energy scored quite low on customer service, complaint management and its usage of digital tools.