Conserving energy and saving money

CUTTING DOMESTIC ENERGY COSTS

With energy bills rising, fixed-rate tariffs, which typically guarantee that prices will not rise for a year or more, have become a more enticing option.
"If you're on a standard tariff you can avoid price increases for at least the next year by moving to a fixed-price tariff," said Scott Byrom, utilities manager at Moneysupermarket.com. "On average, there is only 16p a year difference between standard and fixed tariffs, so consumers should have no excuse for not protecting themselves from future increases to their energy bills."

Among the best fixed-rate deals are ScottishPower's Fixed Price Energy 2009 and a fixed tariff from 31 August this year to 31 December 2009 from British Gas.

Another money saving option if you're on a standard tariff is to switch to an online tariff. This involves paying monthly by direct debit and reporting meter readings on the internet. But they are variable rates, so whether it's worth it depends on your perception of how much prices will rise by. If they increase by around 20 per cent instead of 40 per cent, for example, using an online tariff could be worth considering.
f you haven't switched supplier before, you can save hundreds by shopping around, unless you're on a fixed tariff. Unlike banks, energy companies aren't obliged to tell customers when better rates become available, so it's always worth asking what your supplier can offer and shopping around to see what else is available.
By Jeff Salway

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