Gas & Electricity

Wholesale energy prices, which have been increasing steadily, caused British Gas to raise the price of its ‘tracker’ tariff last week. Today, npower followed suit by announcing that its wholesale price tracker would rise by 17 per cent for gas and 13 per cent for electricity.

Commenting on today’s trading statement from Centrica, Paul Schofield, head of utilities at moneysupermarket.com, said: “Today's statement may well mark the start of the battle for the best fixed-price tariff on the market.

British Gas’ owner, Centrica, has issued its trading statement highlighting a reduction in profit margins in the second half of 2007 due to increased wholesale prices. If this continues into 2008, the energy giant has hinted that a rise in household energy prices will be inevitable.

A second supplier has unveiled price increases on an energy ‘tracker’ plan – npower has announced that it is putting prices up by 17% for gas and 13% for electricity from 1st January, 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.

Energy providers are failing to inform their customers of new cheaper tariffs, causing Brits to languish on more expensive tariffs and reaping the energy companies over £2.5bn per year, according to research from moneysupermarket.com.

The Government today announced a raft of new measures totalling £2.3billion over three years for a twin onslaught on fuel poverty and home energy efficiency.

New research by consumer watchdog energywatch suggests that energy companies are exploiting some of the UK’s poorest households.

British Gas has announced that it is putting prices up on its Market Tracker energy plan. The increases are 13% for gas and 15% for electricity with immediate effect.

Analysts have warned that householders’ energy bills may soar by up to a fifth in the New Year as suppliers pass on a rise in wholesale gas prices.

A new scheme has been proposed by Ofgem that would see energy tariffs given a green rating based on how much carbon they generate.

Ofgem has announced new energy ratings to help consumers understand green energy plans.

As the nation prepares to clean out their gutters and draught proof their windows for National Maintenance Week, Fair Investment Company is advising homeowners to make the most of the green energy providers on the market to help reduce their carbon footprint and save money at the same time.

As the weather gets colder and people start to turn up their heating, energy companies are stepping up the fight to win new customers.

With weather forecasts predicting the onset of the first real chill this winter, uSwitch.com, the independent switching and price comparison service, is urging householders to ensure their boiler is serviced and working properly – or risk wasting over £64 million this winter on unnecessary boiler and heating system repair bills.