Energy customers urged to shop around now

Following the cuts announced to its Annual Fix tariff last week, it's encouraging to see EDF Energy following the lead taken by British Gas, Scottish & Southern Energy and E.ON. EDF Energy is now the latest energy provider to announce wider ranging price cuts of 8.8% for most of its electricity customers, effective from March 31st, but disappointingly nothing more for its gas customers.

Gareth Kloet, head of utilities at Confused.com, urges customers to start shopping around now, to ensure they benefit from the best savings available.

Kloet says: "My advice to all energy customers is to start looking at what deals are out there now. While switching suppliers is quick and easy for the customer, it can take up to 28 days for the energy suppliers to complete the switch. Therefore, customers should be considering switching as soon as possible to make the most of the savings available in the energy market.

"It is disappointing that EDF Energy and most of the other suppliers, with the exception of British Gas, are waiting until the end of winter to implement reductions, when so many households are struggling to pay their winter bills. Our message is simple; if customers want to make larger savings, they need to take matters into their own hands and choose a supplier and tariff that rewards them for their custom. In some cases, they may not even need to switch supplier - simply moving to an online dual fuel tariff and paying by direct debit can bring substantially better savings. Customers don't need to wait until the price changes become effective; they can and should act today."

Customers who switched with Confused.com saved an average of £252.37 on their annual energy bill in 2008.