24 February 2009
Consumers have been advised to consider switching providers and price plans in order to cut back on gas and electricity bills.
Writing for Scotland on Sunday, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com Ann Robinson noted that doing so could save up to £350 per year.
She explained that recent price cuts must be taken in context with last year's increases, as although bills are set to drop by an average of 4.5% - they went up by 42% in 2008.
According to Ms Robinson, changing deals so that a customer is receiving both gas and electricity is one way to save money, while paying by direct debit is also often cheaper.
And she added that those switching from one company to another can be reassured because it is a "simple and painless process".
"There is no danger of your gas and electricity being cut off and it certainly doesn't involve pipes being dug up or your meter being replaced," the expert wrote.
The Energy Saving Trust recently observed that installing smart meters can help save money by allowing a family to keep track of what they are using.