HOUSEHOLDS paying their energy bills online are cashing in on a price war heating up between the biggest gas and electricity suppliers.
After months of price increases, with energy bills hiked by an average 42 per cent last year, most price cuts announced in recent weeks came into force this week. Now two suppliers have announced further reductions for customers who pay online.
Yesterday British Gas trimmed the average cost of its Websaver 2 online tariff by £11 to £1,034. The cut means the plan is once again the most competitive available, a week after it was undercut by E.on.
Further online rate cuts are expected and, with all of the big suppliers already offering their most competitive prices online, customers able and willing to change their payment habits can make significant savings, said Will Marples, energy expert at comparison website uSwitch.com. "Households only have to take three simple steps to lower energy bills – move to dual fuel, pay by direct debit and sign up to an online plan," Marples explained. "If they ditch their expensive standard plans today and sign up to a competitive online plan they will be quids in."
The average online plan – based on the typical dual fuel customer – is now £1,072 a year, compared with the £1,252 average paid by households on standard plans where bills are paid on receipt.
The most expensive tariff on the market, Scottish Power's standard pay-by-bill plan, is £328 a year higher than the new British Gas rate at £1,362.
The average household paying Scottish Power's rate on receipt of their bill can cut their annual payment to £1,155 just by switching to a monthly direct debit arrangement.
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Wednesday 22 April 2009
Wednesday 15 April 2009
Price war will reduce gas and electric deals
Households in the UK will be able to take advantage of a price war erupting between energy providers.
Following months of price rises from energy providers, British Gas, which is owned by Centrica, announced it is cutting the cost of its Websaver 2 product by £11.
Dropping its online energy price to £1,034 means British Gas is now offering the most competitive average price after it was undercut by energy provider E.ON last week.
full article
Following months of price rises from energy providers, British Gas, which is owned by Centrica, announced it is cutting the cost of its Websaver 2 product by £11.
Dropping its online energy price to £1,034 means British Gas is now offering the most competitive average price after it was undercut by energy provider E.ON last week.
full article
Money Saving Tips
Everybody has them, but here are our quick n' easy tips on ways to save money:
8. Use price comparison sites – Make sure you are getting the cheapest deals on your energy bills. Moneysupermarket.com estimates you can save up more than £300 a year if you’ve never switch suppliers. Mind you they would wouldn’t they!
11. Switch Stuff Off – We’ve all heard this before but leaving TVs and plasma screens on standby uses power. The Energy Saving Trust says the average household can save £37 a year just by switching everything off. It’s also environmentally friendly so you can feel all green inside.
See how much you can save with ScottishPower
12. Cut the price of a day out – It’s bleak at this time of year and we all need something to cheer us up and entertain the kids. But by booking ahead on online you can make great savings at places like Alton Towers and Legoland. I got a great deal for mums and under 4s at Chessington World of Adventures – a tenner for the day.
13 Get the cheapest petrol – There’s obviously no point driving for miles to find the petrol station offering the cheapest price. But put your postcode into petrolprices.com and they’ll find you the best local price.
14. Turn to the WI - The Women’s Institute is experiencing somewhat of a revival in these economically challenging times. They claim younger people are turning to them in unprecedented numbers to learn how to knit, darn and cook cheaply. One top tip from the WI is using lemons for cleaning products!
Take advantage of some money-saving vouchers
17. Switch Light-bulbs – The experts say we should install low energy light bulbs in our homes as they use about 25% of the power of normal light bulbs and pay for themselves quickly.
18. Make Lunch - Sandwiches from the local café or even the supermarket will set you back at least 3quid a go. 5 days a week and that’s £750 a year. Make a sandwich or take last night’s leftovers in to work in your favourite Tupperware container!
20. Be an eco-driver – this may not sound very Jeremy Clarkson , but the Energy Savings Trust says by changing gear (upward) before you engine hits 2,5000 rpm, driving smoothly at around 45.059mph and turning off the air-con can save £120 a year.
full article
8. Use price comparison sites – Make sure you are getting the cheapest deals on your energy bills. Moneysupermarket.com estimates you can save up more than £300 a year if you’ve never switch suppliers. Mind you they would wouldn’t they!
11. Switch Stuff Off – We’ve all heard this before but leaving TVs and plasma screens on standby uses power. The Energy Saving Trust says the average household can save £37 a year just by switching everything off. It’s also environmentally friendly so you can feel all green inside.
See how much you can save with ScottishPower
12. Cut the price of a day out – It’s bleak at this time of year and we all need something to cheer us up and entertain the kids. But by booking ahead on online you can make great savings at places like Alton Towers and Legoland. I got a great deal for mums and under 4s at Chessington World of Adventures – a tenner for the day.
13 Get the cheapest petrol – There’s obviously no point driving for miles to find the petrol station offering the cheapest price. But put your postcode into petrolprices.com and they’ll find you the best local price.
14. Turn to the WI - The Women’s Institute is experiencing somewhat of a revival in these economically challenging times. They claim younger people are turning to them in unprecedented numbers to learn how to knit, darn and cook cheaply. One top tip from the WI is using lemons for cleaning products!
Take advantage of some money-saving vouchers
17. Switch Light-bulbs – The experts say we should install low energy light bulbs in our homes as they use about 25% of the power of normal light bulbs and pay for themselves quickly.
18. Make Lunch - Sandwiches from the local café or even the supermarket will set you back at least 3quid a go. 5 days a week and that’s £750 a year. Make a sandwich or take last night’s leftovers in to work in your favourite Tupperware container!
20. Be an eco-driver – this may not sound very Jeremy Clarkson , but the Energy Savings Trust says by changing gear (upward) before you engine hits 2,5000 rpm, driving smoothly at around 45.059mph and turning off the air-con can save £120 a year.
full article
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