Don’t let energy bills burn a hole in your pocket 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. However, consumers could save up to £325 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 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. 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 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.

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