Grab a cheap fixed price energy deal while they can

Consumers are being warned to move quickly if they want to protect their energy prices ahead of winter.

One of the most popular fixed price deals - EDF Energy Blue + Price Promise April 2014 - is being pulled off the market, leaving consumers looking for peace of mind coupled with no exit penalties with a dwindling range of options, says uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service.

Following SSE's price hike announcement there has been a flurry of consumers looking to secure a fixed price deal to protect themselves from future price increases. However, just two fixed price plans - EDF Energy's and a ScottishPower plan - offered this peace of mind without an early exit penalty. Importantly, both plans appeared in the energy ‘best buy' tables, meaning that they were competitively priced too.

With the EDF Energy plan now being pulled that leaves just the ScottishPower fixed price plan as a haven for concerned householders. The good news is that, as of today, ScottishPower has extended the price guarantee on its plan to January 2014, while keeping the price static at £1,052 a year - £6 a year cheaper than the old EDF Energy plan. There are still no exit penalties so consumers can feel reassured that they are getting a cheap price today, protection against hikes in the future plus the flexibility to switch away should a much better offer come onto the market.

Tom Lyon, energy expert at uSwitch.com, says: "Consumers who want to fix their energy prices cannot afford to hang around - these deals are flying off the shelves and could be pulled at any time. People have quickly grasped that paying a low price today, coupled with a price guarantee and no exit penalties makes fixing your prices a real ‘no brainer'. It gives absolute peace of mind coupled with flexibility, vital for consumers as we head into what could well be a winter of price hikes."