An easy fix if your energy bills are too high

CUSTOMERS paying for gas and electricity on a standard tariff are being urged to fix on to lower-cost deals.

The push comes after the Government last week fired a warning shot to energy suppliers about a slow response in passing on falling oil and wholesale energy prices to families paying the bills.

Switching website TheEnergyShop estimates that falling supplier costs should translate into savings of around £140 on customer bills for average energy users on a standard dualfuel tariff. The average bill is £1,265 – 168 per cent higher than a decade ago, according to comparison website uSwitch.

But customers are only likely to see price cuts if they move on to a new, recently launched fixed-price deal, which could save more than £300 a year compared to the average standard tariff.

Tom Lyon, energy expert at uSwitch, says: ‘Whilst quick to pass on rising costs, the Big Six energy suppliers are yet to reduce bills for the majority of their customers who are on standard tariffs. Don’t just stick to the standard tariffs, and look for the best buys which aren’t always from the Big Six providers.

‘Small suppliers have dominated the best buy table over the last year, and currently hold the top three spots.’

These top deals include a dualfuel tariff at £935 a year from First Utility for average users, with fixed prices until March 2016, and similar deals from Extra Energy and Co-operative Energy, for £937 and £938 a year respectively.