Consumer scheme helps households find energy best deal

Frontline workers have been armed with the know-how to help households, many of them in fuel poverty, save money through Energy Best Deal, a campaign launched last year by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, energy regulator Ofgem and national charity Citizens Advice. The campaign equipped frontline workers to give guidance on how to switch supplier or tariff and the range of help available from the Government and energy suppliers for people struggling to pay their energy bills. Consumers also attended the sessions, which were run across England and Wales.

An independent evaluation of the scheme carried out by the Centre for Sustainable Energy and published today found that of the ordinary consumers who attended the sessions:

Before the session, 15 per cent did not know they could switch their energy supplier. Of those who did know they could switch, nearly a third said they did not know how to do this prior to the session.

Forty-five per cent went on to look into getting a better deal on their energy. Of these, over two thirds said they found it easy or fairly easy to get information about different tariffs and almost half went on to successfully switch supplier.

Eight per cent said they would apply for a home improvement grant, 15 per cent said they would check out their entitlement to benefits and tax credits while 12 per cent said they would get advice on paying off their debts.

Energy Best Deal key facts:

Most people can switch energy supplier, those who have never done so before could save on average between £73 - £91 depending on how they pay their bills and where they live.

Those who don't want to switch should make sure they are on their suppliers' cheapest available tariff.

Most energy suppliers offer help to customers struggling to pay their energy bills.

Those on low or fixed incomes may be entitled to a range of benefits including help with home insulation or a new boiler.

Everyone aged over 60 is entitled to a winter fuel payment (from £125 to £250) and those aged over 80 can get between £200, £275 or £400 depending on their circumstances.

Sarah Harrison, Ofgem's Senior Partner for Sustainable Development, said: "This evaluation shows the success of Energy Best Deal and the value, especially in these difficult economic times, of spreading the word about the help available to vulnerable customers. For most consumers there is scope to make savings by switching supplier, payment method and taking up energy efficiency measures."

David Harker, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice said: "Citizens Advice Bureaux work daily to assist clients who may be in fuel debt or have other concerns about their energy bills. Enquiries to bureaux about fuel debts were up 53 per cent when comparing the three months to the end of June 2009 with the same period last year. This reinforces how necessary partnerships such as Energy Best Deal are. The most vulnerable customers may not have internet access, need help using a telephone or simply find the process of switching or applying for help daunting. Face-to-face advice really makes a difference and ensures that clients know how to save on their fuel costs."