Don't let energy bills burn a hole in your pocket in 2008

Save up to £325 on your energy bills in 2008 [1]

12.5 million households are still losing out on the cheapest energy deals [2].

9.3 million consumers have never switched energy providers [3].

uSwitch.com offers a ten point plan to cheaper fuel bills in 2008.

Household bills have a major role to play in any New Year financial detox - and none more so than energy bills as the average energy bill now stands at £;912 [4].

However, consumers could save up to £325 [1] just by making some simple changes.

So, for those facing the January budgeting blues, uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, is offering a ten point plan to give 2008 a money-saving kick start.

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, explains: "Households could save up to £;325 [1] on their gas and electricity bills just by shopping around for a better deal.

The golden rules of switching are: move to dual fuel (getting both gas and electricity from one supplier), pay by direct debit and sign up to an online plan to make sure that you are getting the best available deal.

These three simple steps could save you time and money.

"Switching is a painless process - there is no danger of your gas or electricity being cut off and it certainly doesn't involve pipes being dug up.

The best chance that consumers now have of seeing lower energy bills is by taking action themselves.

There are still big savings to be had by the 9.3 million households that have never switched [3].

However, these are not the only savings to be made.

Energy efficiency - cutting down on the amount of energy you use - could help too.

"uSwitch.com's ten point plan to cheaper fuel bills in 2008: 1) Compare and switch - if you've never switched before you are likely to be paying more than you would with the cheapest supplier.

Get a comparison based on your individual circumstances - where you live, your actual energy usage and how you like to pay - so you can be sure that you are getting the right deal for you.

If you use a price comparison service check that it is Energywatch accredited, impartial and upfront about how it earns its money.

2) Pay the easy way -if you still pay on receipt of a bill, you are probably being charged a premium.

Direct debit is easy to set up and could save up to £71 a year [5] on your energy bills as many suppliers offer a discount for paying this way.

However, 2.4 million (19%) dual fuel households do not pay energy bills by direct debit [6].

3) Switch two for one - 4.2 million households are still buying gas and electricity from two different companies [7].

Switching to dual fuel (buying gas and electricity from one supplier) can save time and money.

Not only can you benefit from dealing with just one bill, but also dual fuel plans can offer a bigger discount.

4) Go online - customers on standard plans are paying on average £143 [8] more than new online customers.

This is an easy saving to make - don't be put off by it being called an 'online' plan as some suppliers will only expect you to register online and then manage your account in the same way as before.

5) Don't be complacent - a good deal a year ago may not be a good deal today.

Carry out a yearly MOT on your energy supplier to keep on top of prices and to take advantage of innovative ideas, such as green energy plans.

6) Insulate, insulate, insulate - don't spend hard earned cash heating up the street and not your home.

Make sure your loft is insulated to a depth of at least 10 inches.

7) Shed some light on savings - fit energy efficient light bulbs and make sure you turn lights off when not using a room.

8) Switch it off - before you go to bed make sure you turn off all appliances such as TVs, computers and DVD players at the socket.

Leaving appliances on standby wastes energy and adds pounds to your bill.

9) Turn it down - most of us have the heating on way too hot.

Turn it down by just one degree and you could save up to 10% on bills.

And don't forget your hot water.

If you're adding cold water to cool it down, it's too hot.

10) Cut out the draughts - check your windows and doors are sealed against draughts before autumnal chills turn your home into an icebox.

For more information visit http://www.uswitch.com/ or call 0800 093 06 07.

[1].

At least 11% of people who switched dual fuel energy supplier with uSwitch.com between 1st February and 31st August 2007 saved £325 or more.

[2].

Based on uSwitch YouGov data April 2007.

These are the households that are still on the more expensive standard energy plans rather than the cheaper online plans.

Calculated by multiplying the total number of households (25,269,835) by the proportion of standard customer accounts.

[3].

According to research, conducted by YouGov between 28th March and 2 April 2007 using a sample size of 4268 UK adults, 1526 had not switched their energy provider.

Assuming there are 26 million households in the UK, this suggests that 9,298,882 have not switched nationally.

[4].

Based on a medium user (20,500 kWh of gas and 3,300 kWh of electricity) on a standard plan paying on receipt of bill and averaged across the big six energy suppliers.

[5].

Savings quoted are based on a comparison of dual fuel standard plans across both payment methods and averaged across all suppliers.

Based on a medium user (3,300 kWh of electricity and 20,500 kWh of gas per year).

Multiplying this saving by the number of people paying on receipt of bill for Dual fuel plans gives the total saving.

[6].

From research commissioned by uSwitch.com and conducted by YouGov, among a representative sample of 11,806 adults 12th - 16th April 2007.

2.4 million calculated as the proportion of the overall number of households paying on receipt of bill.

[7].

From research commissioned by uSwitch.com and conducted among a representative sample of 4,268 adults from 28 March - 2 April 2007.

Calculated as the proportion of single gas and electric responses applied as a percentage to the overall number of households.

[8].

For a medium user profile using 20,500kWh gas and 3300 kWh electricity, comparing a standard plan paying on receipt of bill with an online plan paying by fixed monthly direct debit across the big six suppliers.

Back to top