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Switching energy suppliers - what is the next step?

An increasing amount of Brits are looking for ever more inventive ways to save money on their utility bills as the cost of living hits people harder and harder.

Below, we have looked at a few of the key things everyone can do to save money when it comes to their energy bills:

Request an itemised bill

Monitoring your usage is the first step to saving money; this will give you an idea of exactly where your money is going. Requesting an itemised bill is the perfect way to do this. It may seem like a chore at the time, but ultimately it could lead to some much needed savings.

Make savings in all areas of energy usage

Before you go about seeking out a specific tariff for your household, make an effort to save energy wherever possible. There are a number of nifty gadgets available which can measure the amount of power that various devices use. In order to save on heating, be sure that your thermostat is set no higher than you need it to be.

Consider the benefits of insulation

If you are serious about saving energy in the long term, it may well be worthwhile considering insulating your home or installing double glazing. Most homes lose a significant amount of heat through windows, doors, walls and the roof - ensuring that you keep this to a minimum is also likely to help with cutting costs.

When you have made your home as energy efficient as possible and familiarised yourself with the way that you use fuel, it is time to look for a suitable tariff.

The best way to do this is to use energy comparison services. Asda Energy Switch & Save is a service tailored to saving customers money on their household utility bills.

By gaining a comprehensive view of the market and the options open to you, you will be in a fantastic position to ensure that the amount you spend on energy in your home is kept to a minimum.

How much energy do you waste using a kettle?

If you are a tea or coffee addict (or maybe just a lover of soup and noodles in a mug) then you’ll know how vital a kettle can be.

Unfortunately, kettles are notorious energy guzzlers and one cup can cost you more than you think.

Kettles are one of the most commonly used kitchen essentials and the average kettle sees a significant amount of action in UK homes.

Figures from the Energy Saving trust show that using a microwave to heat up your favourite brew is, in fact, more energy efficient than using a kettle.

Based on the typical electricity price of 14.39p per kilowatt per hour, the average kettle would set you back around £24 a year. Compare this to a microwave which would cost just £13 a year and you can see the benefits of changing the way you heat your water.

Even using a gas hob could be more energy efficient than a kettle. This is because it only uses £17 worth of power a year. The average electric hob, however, absorbs £43 worth of energy each year.

The cost of living is increasing and energy bills are one of the biggest drains on household finances.

The leading six energy suppliers in the UK all increased their prices by up to 20% last autumn, adding an extra £200 to the annual duel fuel bill. Prices have dropped slightly since then, however, consumers are still being stung with high bills.

Switch and Save

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg recently urged bill payers to shop around for the best deals as they could save £100 a year.

According to the government, seven out of 10 people are not on the most appropriate tariff for their energy use.

You could switch and save today using Asda’s Energy Compare and Save tool.

UK energy firms slash prices across the board

British Gas, EDF Energy, Npower and Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) have all slashed their domestic gas and electricity prices by up to 5%.

This is great news for consumers, but who will follow suit and will any other suppliers under-cut them?

Four of the UK’s six leading energy suppliers have all announced price cuts since the beginning of the year. This is due mainly to a fall in the wholesale price of gas, which now stands at 9.2%.

By last autumn, as a result of the increased wholesale cost, all of the leading energy firms increased their prices by an average of 20%, adding a massive £200 to the annual dual fuel bill.

This slight reduction in the price of gas or electricity is not likely to have much effect on the purse strings of consumers as they will only reduce annual bills by approximately £20-£40.

British Gas has reduced their domestic electricity tariff by 5% with immediate effect, this is said to wipe an average of £24 of the annual household bill.

SSE has slashed their gas prices by 4.5%, which will come into force on 26th March. SSE customers could see as much as £28 knocked off their bill.

EDF Energy cut their gas prices by 5% as of 7th February, slashing £38 off the annual bill.

Npower has cut their gas price by 5% which will be enforced as of 1st February.

Other suppliers might now be feeling the pressure to reduce their tariffs in order to maintain a strong customer base. With just E.ON and Scottish Power left to make a decision on whether to follow the recent moves made by the other leading suppliers, it surely won’t be long before we see the typical energy price ‘domino effect’ come into play.

When British Gas announced that it was raising its standard gas prices by 18% and electricity by 16% last year, it was only a matter of time before the other suppliers did the same.

Huge price hikes came into effect just in time for the winter. Household bills this month are expected to rocket as a result, despite the unusually mild winter start.

If you are looking to switch energy providers you could use an Energy comparison site.

Reduced energy prices bring New Year cheer for consumers

EDF energy has announced plans to slash their gas prices by 5%, starting from next month.

The leading energy company is the second provider to have announced a dip in rates this month, following a move by Ovo who also announced a 5% cut.

The wholesale cost of gas has fallen by 9.2% since November last year, allowing EDF to reduce its rates, providing much needed financial relief for UK consumers.

EDF increased its gas bills by 15.4% in November, adding winter misery to already high household bills. Last year, all six of the leading energy companies increased their prices for gas and electricity by an average of 20%.

The newly reduced rate will come into effect from 7th February 2012, slashing £38 off the average household gas bill.

According to price comparison website uSwitch, the move will reduce the average for a dual fuel bill from £1,241 to £1,203.

This reduction is the first of its kind from a major supplier since prices have begun to rise steadily over the last few years.

However, smaller supplier Ovo has also announced a price cut recently. The energy firm has cut 5% off its dual fuel fixed tariff for new and existing customers. This has come into immediate effect and the reduced rate started on 6th January.

EDF did not announce any cuts to their electricity prices, which it increased by 4.4% in November.

Whilst this reduction is a positive step towards reduced household bills generally, many are still feeling the pinch as utility prices are still relatively high.

If you are looking to switch your energy supplier for a cheaper deal, you could use the ASDA Energy switch & Save tool today.

Big Energy Week encourages households to switch suppliers

The Big Energy Week got off to an electrifying start yesterday as the campaign to drive people to switch energy suppliers got underway.

Aiming to help UK households save money on domestic fuel bills, the Big Energy Week (16th-21st January) involves a range of organisations, energy suppliers, comparison websites and Government agencies.

Big Energy Week has been launched by Citizens Advice, offering thousands of people information on how to save money on their energy bills as well as how to receive the financial support they are entitled to.

Gillian Guy, Citizens Advice Chief Executive, said: “Hikes in prices have put extra pressure on people’s budgets at a time when money is already tight.”

In addition to the Big Energy Week, all six of the leading fuel suppliers have announced prices cuts to either their domestic gas or electricity prices.

Now could be a great time for consumers to shop around for the best deal. By comparing tariffs available from the different providers, consumers could save up to £200 on their annual bill.

According to research by uSwitch.com, the leading price comparison website, the fresh round of price cuts still leaves a £1.9 billion hole in consumers’ pockets.

Last year, the leading energy suppliers raised their prices by an average of 20%, adding an extra £200 to the annual dual fuel bill. This round of cuts only slashes an average of £34 off that total figure.

A survey by Citizens Advice found that a staggering 53% of people are resorting to heating their homes less in order to save money. A further 43% of people are worried that they can’t afford to pay their next fuel bill and one in two say that high-energy costs will stretch their finances this year.

You could potentially reduce costs by using the Adsa Energy Switch and Save tool to compare prices and find the best tariff for you.

Please note; Asda do not have any formal association with the ‘Big Energy Week’ initiative.

UK faces winter fuel bill crisis

New reports suggest that winter fuel bills could reach as much as £500 next month for many UK consumers.

Research from MoneySupermarket.com, the price comparison website, found that the sharp increase in gas and electricity tariffs last year have significantly bumped up the price winter bills. Those already suffering from a financial hangover after the festive period will be feeling the effects of the recent price hikes.

British Gas, EON, EDF, Npower, Scottish Power and Scottish & Southern Electric have all increased their prices by an average of 17.4% for gas and 10.8% for electricity, meaning that winter bills could potentially leave customers seriously out of pocket.

According to the research, homeowners use around 40% of their annual energy consumption during the winter months. Following a long spell of mild weather, many may think their winter bills will be reduced. However, things are not this simple. Those currently on a standard tariff using 40% of their total yearly energy consumption could face a bill of £514!

The UK’s six leading energy firms all increased their prices last year and experts believe that general prices could increase again by as soon as April.

Any further increases are likely to be met with dejection by the majority of the British population, who are still dealing with a number of additional financial problems in these unstable times.

It could be advisable to shop around for cheaper gas and electricity before the next round of increased prices. Staying on a fixed tariff could help to protect you from further price hikes. Use the Asda Energy Switch and Save tool to compare prices.

Five ways to smarten up a room for winter

Fallen pine needles, wrapping paper, glitter and pieces of tinsel are likely to litter your floors over the Christmas season. With winter in full swing, no-one wants to celebrate amongst all this mess. With this in mind, we have looked at five ways to smarten up a room for winter.

Repaint
A quick coat of paint can do wonders for any room or home. If repainting your room around winter, make sure you avoid cold colours such as white as these will leave you facing a frosty reception in your own home. Go with warmer neutrals, such as cream, or – if you’re feeling bold – bright colours and patterns.

Insulate

Insulating your home can help retain warmth and keep energy bills low – two perfect ways to combat the winter blues. This will make your home more comfortable and help to give it a smarter appearance (as all those space heaters will be firmly stored away). Protecting your home in this way is essential over winter and you could also look to cut your energy bills by switching suppliers.

Minimalist

Don’t go overboard with the festive decorations and keep your interior design within the realms of minimalism. This will prevent your home looking cluttered and will give you an enjoyable area to relax in over the holidays. Not only that, but packing everything up come the New Year will be easier too!

Heating

As stated above, warmth is important in your home over winter. With this in mind, getting your boiler serviced and addressing your heating is essential. This could be a good time to invest in a more efficient form of heating or update your radiators to something a little more stylish – the perfect way to smarten any room. If you have an open fire then get your chimney and fire place inspected before use.

Guttering

Smartening a room doesn’t just apply to the interior design but also applies to the exterior as well. Your guttering can accumulate a large quantity of leaves and debris, which can eventually cause damage to your property. Get them cleaned in the winter and ensure your home looks smart both inside and out.

Wartime money savers we can use today

As individuals across the UK honoured wartime heroes this weekend through remembrance ceremonies, the sacrifices which were made during that period have never been so poignant. Sacrifices were not just made by those in the battlefields though, but also by those left at home. In order to pay tribute to these individuals, we have looked at some of the wartime money savers which could help households save in the modern day.

Save Money

Perhaps the main way in which wartime nations saved money was through performing their own repairs and putting everyday household objects to new uses. According to the Daily Mail and UKHomeFront.co.uk, some of the best money saving tactics from wartime Britain were as follows;

•Keep sinks clear and clean by placing a lump of soda in the pipe which water passes through. This will ensure that grease and other debris does not block the pipes, preventing the need for people to call somebody out to unclog their drains – two things which can lead to unnecessary costs.

•Use leftover food in other dishes to prevent waste and save money. Popular examples of this include making bubble and squeak from leftover vegetables and potatoes following a Sunday roast. This meal was often sufficient to feed a family for a further evening without using any extra ingredients. Cold meat could supplement the meal and, if used sparingly, could last the rest of the week.

Save Energy

According to the Telegraph, wartime frugality didn’t just save money – it saved energy too. For example, the simple act of switching off lights during wartime helped to make savings in both areas. Such a basic consideration has the same effect today, so why not try it?

Energy consumption levels are arguably more important now than they were during the war, so putting these practices into place could help households to save money.

•Grow your own vegetables: a campaign from WW2 saw households encouraged to grow their own fruit and vegetables. This would make the food ‘carbon neutral’ nowadays by eliminating the need to spend energy and money transporting it to different areas.

•Share with others: techniques from campaigns which encouraged individuals to share their food and resources with neighbours could also have a use in the modern world. For example, car sharing can help people reduce their carbon emissions.

Asda’s Energy Switch and Save policy allows people to save money on energy by searching through the best prices from every UK supplier, ensuring you get the best deal possible.

3 ways to cut the cost of Christmas

Christmas is fast approaching and with only a few weeks to go, many cash strapped shoppers are looking for ways to reduce their seasonal spending.

The Christmas countdown is well underway and funding the festivities could turn you into a scrooge if you end up in debt.

Recent research from Kelkoo, the online comparison website, found that the average Christmas budget this year is a hefty £682, with £437 being spent on gifts, £184 on food and drink, £41 on travel and an extra £20 on decorations.

Listed below are 3 quick ways to reduce that jaw-dropping budget;

Cut Down on Lights

Everyone loves Christmas and nothing says Christmas more than having a great selection of lights, both inside and out. But if you want to cut back and save some money, it might be advisable to try and reduce the number of Christmas lights you have on your tree or dotted around the house this year. To save even more you could look to cut your gas and electricity bills.

Make your own

If you make your own Christmas cards, decorations and even gifts, you could save hundreds of pounds. This would also keep children occupied over the holiday period. Don’t forget to reduce your daily luxuries and treats in the process to save even more cash.

Food & drink

Food & drink is one of the more expensive aspects of Christmas so why not let someone else sort it out. Head to a family member’s house for Christmas lunch, or alternatively get everyone coming over to your place to bring with them a dish or a bottle. It is also a crime at Christmas to waste the food; some of the best recipes ever invented have come from being creative with leftovers.

5 Ways To Get Ready For Winter

Snow, ice, cold... Winter is one the most magical seasons, but also one of the hardest to endure for a number of reasons. Before the cold arrives, make sure you are 100% ready to enjoy it to the fullest.

Health: Wear several layers of clothes and remain active to help you stay warm. In case of icy conditions, ensure you own a pair of shoes with a decent grip to prevent falls. Good hygiene habits can help to prevent the spread of virus. If you are aged 65 or over, pregnant, have certain medical conditions, or you are the main carer for an older or disabled person, check that you have had your flu jab.

Travelling: Before winter arrives, take your vehicle to the garage for a full check up. Preparing your car for winter is essential to avoiding nasty surprises on the road, this includes having an emergency kit ready to use in your car. Attending a course or getting online information on how to drive on snowy or icy roads can prevent you from having accidents.

Energy bills: Since 2004, the average annual bill for a dual-fuel energy customer has risen by 117%; however, there are some tips to save money on gas and electricity bills. Switching tariff and paying by direct debit will help you to save and with Asda Energy Switch & Save you can save an average of £203.99. It is also important to insulate your home, use an energy monitor and purchase environmentally friendly equipment.

Frozen pipes: Preventing pipes from being frozen is probably one of the best things you can do at home to get ready for winter and save future heating headaches. Before winter starts, ensure pipes in cold, draughty areas are insulated.

Christmas presents: The Christmas holidays are an expensive time of the year and budgets can get severely stretched. Using gift cards and discount vouchers for gift shopping, cashing in retailer reward points, giving homemade presents or simply cutting down on presents entirely are some of the most common saving techniques employed by millions of Brits.

Ofgem steps up energy firms probe

Energy regulator Ofgem has hired specialist accountants from BDO to investigate how the big six gas and electricity suppliers calculate their profits.

The forensic accounting specialists are charged with the task of examining the trading profits, wholesale prices and hedging practices of British Gas, E.ON Energy, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, Npower and Scottish & Southern Energy.

They are doing this to determine if profits at the companies' retail arms have been underestimated in order to justify higher gas and electricity prices.

The measure is part of an investigation launched by Ofgem in March, after the regulator revealed it had evidence to suggest that the major energy suppliers had raised prices to offset rising costs more quickly than they reduced them when costs fell.

At the time, Ofgem vowed to look into the "facts behind the numbers".

The decision to hire the accountants was taken to improve transparency over the pricing decisions made by the six companies and give consumers a clearer indication over how retail prices relate to wholesale energy costs.

Npower set to raise energy bills

Millions more UK householders are set to face higher energy bills in the months to come, after Npower announced it was raising its prices.

Gas and electricity costs are due to go up by 15.7% and 7.2% respectively from the start of October for those on average tariffs, according to the firm.

In light of this announcement, the company's average monthly dual-fuel customer paying by direct debit could soon be hit with a bill increase of 12.2%. This translates as an additional payment of £134 annually.

A number of other UK energy providers have opted to raise their gas and electricity prices in recent months, with Scottish and Southern Energy, Scottish Power, British Gas and E.ON all hiking their rates.

EDF is the last of the 'big six' energy providers to reveal details of its price changes.

E.ON announces fuel price hikes

The hunt for cheap gas and electricity just got harder after E.ON became the latest energy firm to announce forthcoming price hikes.

Gas and electricity prices will increase by 18.1% and 11.4% respectively at the energy giant from September 13.

The company joins the likes of British Gas, Scottish Power and Scottish & Southern Energy in announcing price increases in recent weeks, as energy firms pass on a 30% rise in wholesale costs since last winter to their customers.

E.ON said that nearly 600,000 of its five million customers will not be affected by the increase, including its most vulnerable customers on WarmAssist tariffs. The company said the average dual fuel bill for a customer paying with direct debit would increase by 15.2% to £1,190 from next month.

E.ON director Graham Bartlett said: "I know that this is hard for customers and want to help them avoid future price volatility, which is why we've launched our new two-year fixed price deal."

Domestic energy use up since 1970

Domestic energy use has risen by nearly 20% over the last thirty years, official figures have shown.

Research by the Office of National Statistics showed consumption increased by 18% between 1970 and 2009.

It attributed the increases to more homes along with changes in energy efficiency and "external temperatures."

More than half of the energy consumed was found to be used on heating.

However the figures show signs that the UK is using more renewable resources.

In 1990 just 1.7% of electricity used in the UK was generated from renewable resources. This figure increased to 5.6% in 2008.

However this was still well below the EU average of 16.7% in the same year.

Meanwhile UK emissions of greenhouses gases fell by nearly a third between 1990 and 2009, the ONS research showed.

Scottish and Southern hike energy prices

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has become the latest major energy firm to increase its gas and electricity prices.

The supplier will hike its gas prices by an average of 18% and electricity prices by 11% from September 14 in a move that will affect millions of gas and electricity customers all over the country.

The changes mean that a typical annual dual-fuel bill will jump by £171 from £1,094 to £1,265.

SSE is the third major company to have announced recent price hikes, following in the footsteps of Scottish Power and British Gas. All three firms said they raised prices in response to higher wholesale gas prices, the increased cost of using energy networks and the cost of social and environmental schemes.

The company has assured its 5.2 million household electricity and 3.6 million gas customers that they will not face any more price hikes until August 1, 2012 at the earliest.