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Complain to your energy supplier or network operator first. If it has not resolved the issue after eight weeks, you can usually take it to the Energy Ombudsman; a deadlock or final decision letter may let you go sooner. The Ombudsman’s dispute service is free, but eligibility and deadlines depend on the case and the letter you receive.
1. Find the right company and its complaint process
Start with the supplier or network operator responsible for the problem. Follow its published complaints procedure and ask for its complaints team if it has one. Ofgem says you can complain by phone, email or through the company’s website. See Ofgem’s guidance on complaints about suppliers and network operators.
If you are unsure whether the issue concerns your supplier or the network operator, describe the problem to the company you believe is responsible and ask it to direct you to the right complaints route.
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Make the complaint specific and factual. Say what went wrong, when it happened, and how it has affected you. Then state what would put it right. Depending on the issue, you might ask the company to correct a bill, refund an overpayment, fix a problem or discuss an affordable payment plan. These are possible requests, not guaranteed outcomes. Citizens Advice offers guidance and a complaint-letter template at Contacting your energy supplier about a problem.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Insightful Energy Tracking】Track your plug's energy use with clear and easy-to-understand statistics and intuitive charts, helping you optimize power usage.
- 【Estimate Your Energy Bill】 Enhance energy management by integrating with billing systems for clear cost visualization (both single and periodic readings). Additionally, programmable scheduling allows automatic operation of high-consumption devices during off-peak hours with lower electricity rates, resulting in cost savings.
- 【Smart Charging for Devices】Automatically cuts power once your device reaches the low-battery limit you set, preventing overcharging.
- 【Auto-Shutoff】Prevents electrical overload by automatically shutting off devices that use too much power.
- 【Voice & Remote Control】 With built-in support for both Alexa and Google Assistant, issue simple voice commands to adjust settings, turn devices on or off, or even access specific functions without lifting a finger. Manage Tapo P115 and its connected devices from anywhere with the user-friendly Tapo app.
Keep useful evidence
Include relevant records where available, such as bills, meter readings or photographs, account statements, and emails or letters. Keep copies of what you send and note the date you first contacted the company. That date helps establish when the eight-week period has passed.
3. Know when you can escalate
The usual route to the Energy Ombudsman opens when your complaint has remained unresolved for eight weeks. You may be able to refer it earlier if the company sends a deadlock or final decision letter. A deadlock letter is the company’s notice that it cannot resolve the issue or has no more to offer. Read the letter carefully and follow its instructions and deadline.
Rank #2
- Various Monitoring Parameters: The power meter plug can monitor the power (W), energy (kWh), volts, amps, hertz, power factor, cost, minimum and maximum power (W), cumulative days and time of your appliances. By switching 7 display modes, you can easily know the various parameters while the appliance is working. The home energy monitor can also calculate and display how much power your appliance uses and how much electricity bill it cost in cumulative time
- Upgraded LCD Display: With large screen size 2.36 inch x 1.85 inch, clearer monitor backlit, our electrical usage monitor can display the data clearer and more visible no matter day or night. 180°full wide viewing angles is great for reading and recording the data in any angles. No need to stand on the front of the display and bend over to read the numbers
- Adjustable Backlight Time: Our upgraded watt meter has 5 options of backlight time. The default backlight time duration is 10 minutes(bL-0). If you want to change the backlight time, you can press and hold "UP" and "DOWN" button at the same time to enter backlight time setting, then press "UP" and "DOWN" to select the backlight time (bL-0 =10 minutes, bL-1=1 hour, bL-2=4 hours, bL-3=8 hours, bL-4=always on), finally press the "COST" to save the backlight time settings
- Overload protection: When the power of the appliance exceeds the overload power, the LCD will display “OVERLOAD” to warn the user. All the buttons will quit working and can only be workable when you lower or remove the load power. The default overload power is 3680W and is adjustable from 0 to 3680W. In general, you need to set the overload power to 1800W before using. Just press the "function" button for more than 3 seconds to enter the setting
- Data Memory Function: The wattage meter will record your power consumption data when you remove it from socket, or remove appliances from the electricity monitor. You can directly see the last data when you use it next time. This function can also automatically save the data when there is a sudden power failure
| Route | When it applies | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Wait for the eight-week threshold | The company has not resolved your complaint after eight weeks. | Use the Ombudsman’s current guidance to check eligibility and submit the dispute. |
| Escalate after a deadlock or final decision letter | The company issues a letter saying it cannot resolve the complaint or has reached its final position. | Check the letter’s deadline and the Ombudsman’s current instructions; you may not need to wait for eight weeks. |
The Energy Ombudsman explains its eligibility criteria in Information for disputes with energy suppliers. Not every energy-related disagreement qualifies. The Ombudsman lists common disputes involving bills, smart meters and Feed-in Tariffs, customer service, switching, sales, and the supply of energy to a home. It says it does not handle commercial decisions about whether to provide a product or service, or disputes about liquid petroleum gas.
4. Submit your dispute to the Energy Ombudsman
The Ombudsman’s online instructions ask you to find your supplier, confirm that eight weeks have passed or that you have a deadlock letter, and then provide details and supporting documents through its dispute platform. It says using the website is the fastest way to escalate a dispute. Check the current process for other submission channels, accessibility support, or cases that may be handled outside the platform: How to raise a dispute via the Energy Ombudsman website.
Rank #3
- 【Insightful Energy Tracking】Track your plug's energy use with clear and easy-to-understand statistics and intuitive charts, helping you optimize power usage.
- 【Estimate Your Energy Bill】 Enhance energy management by integrating with billing systems for clear cost visualization (both single and periodic readings). Additionally, programmable scheduling allows automatic operation of high-consumption devices during off-peak hours with lower electricity rates, resulting in cost savings.
- 【Smart Charging for Devices】Automatically cuts power once your device reaches the low-battery limit you set, preventing overcharging.
- 【Auto-Shutoff】Prevents electrical overload by automatically shutting off devices that use too much power.
- 【Voice & Remote Control】 With built-in support for both Alexa and Google Assistant, issue simple voice commands to adjust settings, turn devices on or off, or even access specific functions without lifting a finger. Manage Tapo P115 and its connected devices from anywhere with the user-friendly Tapo app.
Have your case details ready
The Ombudsman says these details can help speed up case creation: the supplier’s name, the account holder’s name, the account number, and the date you first complained. Provide a clear account of what happened and attach relevant records. Its case creation guidance explains the process.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Check the deadline and understand the possible decision
Citizens Advice says to refer a complaint within 12 months of the supplier’s decision letter. Read your own letter and check the Ombudsman’s current terms, because the applicable deadline and instructions may depend on your case. Citizens Advice’s Energy Ombudsman complaint guidance also explains that accepting the Ombudsman’s decision closes the complaint.
Rank #4
- Control Your Appliances and Devices: Control lights, fans, lamps, humidifiers, and any other appliances or electronics that plug into 120V outlets with a 10A Maximum Continuous Load (15A Max Peak Load for up to 1hr/day)
- Monitor Your Home Energy Like a Pro: Emporia smart plugs let you stay on top of energy used by your devices and appliances. Eliminate wasteful stand-by power, save on electricity, and extend product life.
- Smart Scheduling for Maximum Control: With built in on/off scheduling capability, use your smart plugs to automatically switch on and off appliances and devices. Want freshly brewed coffee at 7am? Just schedule it with an Emporia plug!
- Remote Control. Anytime, Anywhere. Control your home remotely using the Emporia App on your phone. Leave the lights on? Forget to turn off an appliance? Check the real-time status and toggle it on or off anytime, anywhere!
- Requires 2.4GHz Wifi Connection to control your devices remotely from your phone with an internet connection. 5.0 GHz Wifi networks are not supported.
If the Ombudsman makes a decision, the company must carry out the actions specified in it. Those actions could include putting the problem right, explaining what happened or paying compensation; compensation is not automatic, and the outcome depends on the case. For the distinction between the regulator and the dispute resolver, see Ofgem’s guidance on energy complaints: Ofgem says it is independent from the Energy Ombudsman and cannot intervene in the Ombudsman’s investigations or decisions.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Matter-Certified】Matter-certified devices, regardless of brand, can work together and are compatible with most major smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings. Enjoy more flexible and unified control.
- 【Insightful Energy Tracking】 Monitor your energy consumption with in-depth statistics and clear visuals, helping you optimize power usage.
- 【Estimate Your Energy Bill】 Enhance energy management by integrating with billing systems for clear cost visualization (both single and periodic readings). Additionally, programmable scheduling allows automatic operation of high-consumption devices during off-peak hours with lower electricity rates, resulting in cost savings.
- 【Overcharge Prevention & Power Management】 Automatically cuts off power based on user-set thresholds and durations to prevent overcharging, conserve energy, and protect connected devices from overcurrents by shutting off when power exceeds set limits.
- 【Voice & Remote Control】 With built-in support for both Alexa and Google Assistant, issue simple voice commands to adjust settings, turn devices on or off, or even access specific functions without lifting a finger. Manage Tapo P110M and its connected devices from anywhere with the user-friendly Tapo app.
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