uSwitch.com looks at Warwick University's research on the pros of the electricity switching market.

Geoff Slaughter, Energy Product Manager at uSwitch.com says:

"The University of Warwick has hit the nail on the head - despite apparent competition in the market, consumers are still getting a raw deal, paying over the odds to their incumbent suppliers who continue to 'charge a premium'.

This is currently costing the average consumer just under £117.

The report is indicative of the energy market as a whole.

It finds that regardless of the financial rewards and the customer service benefits of switching, consumers still remain 'reluctant' to switch.

Although last year around 4 million consumers helped themselves to a better deal by switching, 10 million more are still languishing on the uncompetitive deals offered by their incumbent supplier.

They could be saving themselves £2.25 billion collectively.

More worryingly, 4.5 million (41%) of the elderly are living in the shadow of fuel poverty and yet over two thirds (69%) of the over 60s haven't switched.

At the moment consumers appear to be relying on their supplier's salespeople to point them in the direction of a good deal, however the University clearly identifies that there is much better information to be had through using independent online switching services.

Take up is still low so it is vital for consumers to wake up to the benefits of these services as there are substantial savings to be made - last year people saved up to £325 by switching gas and electricity suppliers.

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