Cheaper Gas and Electricity » Gas

Ten Easy Tips That Help Saving Gas Bills

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:36:38 +0000

Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, has projected that the average annual gas bills could rise by up to 70 per cent. This has two important finance implications – first that the reserves are depleting must faster and the second that an immediate action plan should be designed in order to save gas and ever rising bills. For the latter some common practices are -

1. Use Direct Debit: Paying by direct debit can save up to ten per cent of on one’s bill. It is because with direct debit one can ensure timely payment. In case of delays, interest is charged and this can further inflate your gas bills.

2. Use Sweaters: In chilly evenings try to avoid centralized heating systems by pulling on sweaters.

3. Use Thermostat As Per Need: One can reduce one’s thermostat by a couple of degrees. It may also help saving ten per cent on your bills. Turn the thermostat down, if leaving the house for some time.

4. Get Appliances Checked: Get your appliances checked by the concerned authorities to make sure that they are not consuming too much of fuel.

5. Have Meter Reading Regularly: Keep a record of the reading of the meter at regular intervals. There is a possibility that one ends up paying more on the bills due to a faulty meter.

6. Use Insulated Doors and Thick Curtains: Having well insulated doors and windows and thick carpets and curtains. This can help keeping the heat inside the house. One can also significantly save on gas bills by putting silver foils behind the radiators.

7. Use Solar Power and Good Showers and Taps: Water saving showers and taps and solar powered hot water systems can save up to fifteen per cent on the bills. Dripping taps can waste as much water in a week as is required to fill a bath.

8. Select the Right Gas Supplier: The gas supply industry is highly competitive and is running for your share of business. Before finalizing a supplier, make sure that you are getting the right deal. Go for the energy company that offers the best price. Often overlooked, it is one of the most important ways of reducing your bills. Shopping around will definitely not require too much of your effort. In fact there are certain suppliers who offer incentives like cash back, online management of account and billing, etc.

9. Choose Capped Rate: Another option for saving on gas bills can be to go for a capped rate from your supplier. Capped rate can benefit in case when the fuel prices are surging high.

10. Reduce Consumption: And last but not the least, try using less energy as it will also help saving the planet. Make a conscious effort of switching off appliances whenever not required, in order to decrease consumption

Following any of the mentioned steps would help you move in the direction of savings.So what is in your action plan? Happy Savings!

By Nancy Dodds of Financemate.co.uk

Is Your Postcode Dictating Your Gas and Electricity Bills?

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:25:16 +0000

For a good while now the cost of living has been on the rise, we used to be able to focus all our resentment for this on one factor such as fuel for our cars, it was an inconvenience but at least it was only ever one facet of our life. Nowadays it’s not just fuel, its food, insurance, mortgages, credit cards and utilities in our home.

The increase in some areas such as credit card sand loans can be attributed to the current credit crisis with banks being nationalised and collapsing left right and centre but there’s one expense that doesn’t sit right with many customers, gas and electricity.

Utility companies have been able to keeping going great guns despite customers feeling the pinch as their bills rise and with the winter months now upon us we’ll surely be heading for an expensive Christmas on the utility front. There’s been increase pressure on the big six energy companies to pass on the profits they’ve been raking in over the past few months.

One of the interesting (or should that be infuriating?) points with gas and electricity prices is that they can vary depending on where you live, or specifically what postcode you live in. Studies have shown that some areas of the country are spending 28% more on utilities than in other areas.

The best prices on gas and electricity are in the south east of England according to the research, prices in Yorkshire and Humberside were seen to be significantly higher and considering that electricity bills are hovering around the £1,100 mark at the moment many of us are keenly observing where the best prices are in an extra effort to bring down the monthly expense of living in this country.

Earlier in the year when the price of oil had risen many energy companies put up prices of gas and electricity by 17% and 22% respectively. Since the price of oil has dropped the energy companies have not dropped their prices in favour of generating massive profits.

The pressure for energy companies to pass on these profits in the form of cheaper energy bills is reaching boiling point with many customers who have started leaving the main companies in favour of those who are charging even a few pound less per year in an attempt to show the main companies that their profits are unacceptable when many people are struggling with debts and bills at the moment.

Andy Adams is an IT worker and experienced writer

Gas Vs Electricity Who Comes Out on Top

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:19:21 +0000

Just about everyone is dealing with rising heat costs. The price of fuel is going sky high. We are seeing the prices rise at the gas pump and in our home fuel costs. Many people are looking to save money with their gas and electricity usage.

Using gas to heat your home has many benefits. Homes that are heated with natural gas feel quite warm and free from any drafts. On an extremely cold day, you can rely on your gas furnace to more than adequately heat your home and keep your family quite comfortable. Gas furnaces use less energy to heat your home in new homes, as these homes are built to be energy efficient. Many families are quite pleased using gas to heat their homes.

When electricity creates heat, it creates just about 100% of the energy from the electricity into heat. Electric heat has a reputation for being more expensive than traditional gas heat or propane. Electric heat is used in hot climates where there are very few days of the year where you do wind up heating your home. Therefore, while it costs more to heat your home, the homeowner does not suffer as a result.

Whichever type of heat source your family selects, you can always save more money with conscious effort. By being proactive and becoming an involved consumer, any homeowner can work to reduce their home heating bills. A gas and electricity comparison only works when one considers which type of these heat sources would be best for your family. There are always different variables with every family that must be considered.

A great way to save money can often be to do some comparison shopping. Those who have never used another energy company may be missing out on great savings. Do some cost comparisons with local gas and electricity companies to see which would be best for your usage needs. Every family has different needs and different parts of the country will require different gas or electricity at different times.

Switching your billing to online billing can also save you money. This will also be much more convenient and save you a great deal of time. Most gas and electricity companies offer online billing. Ask your gas or electricity provider for more details.

A great way to save money can be to simply turn your thermostat down by a few degrees. Just two or three degrees can add up to real dollars in your pocket by the end of the month. Adjust your thermostat slowly so your family will get used to the new setting over time. Most families don’t even notice a difference of two to three degrees. You will however, notice it when it comes time to pay your heating bill.

Every homeowner should check their home for possible “holes” that are letting out heat or air-conditioning. Windows or doors that don’t close properly, rooms that aren’t insulated enough and other potential “holes” cost you money each and every month. Think first of places in your home that seem drafty, as these could be areas that have “holes.”

Help can be available for needy families to help pay their heating bills. The federal government provides assistance to help families that need extra help heating their homes or paying their electric bills. Check with your local office regarding qualifying statistics.

The price to heat homes is a challenge that many people face today. Fortunately, we do have some control over the cost of this expenditure. By doing some research and learning which opportunity is best for you, your family can choose gas or electricity to heat your home efficiently and affordably.

Finally a way to lower utility costs with Cheaper gas and electricity. For more information on how to Switch provider and save money click one of the two links.

Save Money By Switching Your Utilities

admin — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:36:58 +0000

Most households are now feeling the pinch when it comes to their finances, and for many it has become increasingly difficult to make ends meet and cope with monthly payments and outgoings. Households have seen the cost of living rocket recently, not to mention increased petrol prices, higher food prices, and soaring bills. With all of these rises dealing with finances has become increasingly difficult for many households.

Amongst the many costs that have gone up for the average household is the cost of utilities, and many are paying out a fortune for services such as gas, electricity, and even water. Although these are essential services and therefore we cannot do without them in order to try and save money there are steps that many of us may be able to take in terms of reducing the amount that we pay for these services. There is tough competition amongst utility providers, and whilst all of the major energy firms have been increasing costs you may still find that you pay far less with one provider than you do with another.

When it comes to your gas and electricity costs you may be able to save money by using a price comparison site, entering your details, and seeing which providers service your area. You will also be able to see what sorts of prices are available, and could quickly determine whether you are able to get a cheaper service from another provider. Switching is really easy as well, so you will not have to go to any undue hassle. Also, you should bear in mind that you could save money on your gas and electricity in other ways as well for example, you could save money by taking out dual fuel with your provider, and you could also save some money by setting up a direct debit to make payments monthly.

Things are not quite as straightforward when it comes to your water supplier, as you are limited with regards to which supplier you go with. However, you may find that you can save money by switching to a water meter, especially if you live in a smaller property, there are not many people living in the home, or it you are away a lot.

The Internet has made it easier to switch your services and save money, and in addition to switching service such as your gas, electricity, etc. you could also look at saving money by switching other services such as your broadband provider, insurance providers, and even credit card and loan providers, all of which can be checked and arranged using one of the number of price comparison sites online.

It is a good idea to use at least two different price comparison sites, as each site only covers a portion of the market, and therefore you can increase your chances of finding a good deal.

At the moment there are a number of websites that are designed to help you switch utility companies. It is important that you visit a few of them and study your new utility quotes. Be careful to read the small print to make sure the quotes are like for like.
Author Resource:- Peter Kenny has been writing financial articles for 10 years and is a writer for The Thrifty Scot, please visit us at Unsecured Loan and Loans Visit Choosing the Best Credit Card Product for Your Needs

Turning Up The Heat – Without It Costing You A Penny More

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:00:36 +0000

Fancy Cheaper Utility Bills this winter?

Switching gas and electricity providers can be a great way of achieving cheaper utility bills this winter. Typically if you never moved gas and electricity providers you could save about £100 a year, according to watchdog OFGEM. But how do you do it and who are the best providers?

How do I find a cheaper provider and how much could I save?

We have extensively researched the whole gas and electricity market to help you find who provides the best rates for you. It compares all tariffs from all gas and electricity suppliers. Take the 5 minute challenge and get cheaper utility bills at http://energy.moneyexpert.com/

Once you find the best supplier for your needs you can usually apply online. It then usually takes about four weeks for the new supplier to arrange the transfer of services on your behalf.

In theory you can change suppliers as much as you like as long as you bear in mind the time it takes and that some discounts may only occur when you have been with a supplier for a specified period of time.

What tariff options are available?

Energy and gas providers offer a number of ways to pay.

Dual Fuel – If you still use separate suppliers for your gas and electricty you may be missing out on some substantial savings.

By choosing one supplier for both your gas and electricity you can benefit from having just one bill and a bigger discount by choosing one supplier to provide both your gas and your electricty.

Capped Tariffs – These guarantee the amount you will pay for your gas and/or electricity, until a specified date. These are perfect for you if you want to protect yourself from price rises.

Online Sign-up – Some energy providers offer cheaper tariffs for online customers as the suppliers pass on some of the savings they make from the reduced administration fees.

Online Billing – Much as with the above if the supplier saves money from not having to produce and post out a bill the tariff is usually cheaper.

Direct Debit – Although direct debits can sometimes be tricky to set up they can save you money in the long run as most energy suppliers offer you a discount if you select this payment method.

Cash/Cheque – This is often the most expensive way of paying for your gas and electricity due to the administration involved in sending you out the bill and processing your payment.

Economy 7 – With this tariff a meter is used to split your electricity usage into day and night with different tariffs for each.

Prepayment Meters – This is where your electricity and gas usage is paid for by putting money onto a meter first.

Green Energy – Even though the energy you receive is the same, the company that provides is will generate the equivalent used through renewable means.

Making your home more energy efficient

Another way of gaining cheaper utility bills is to make your home more energy-efficient. Below are some top tips to help you do this:

* – Shower instead of taking a bath as this can use up to a third less energy

* – Use heat-generating appliances such as washers, dryers or ovens during the cooler hours of the morning or evening as it can help to heat the house.

* – Wash only full loads of clothes when possible

* – Start using energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and tumble dryers.

* – Turning your thermostat down by 1ºC could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent and save you around £40 per year.

* – Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat shouldn’t need to be set higher than 60ºC/140ºF.

* – Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.

* – Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.

* – Don’t leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.

* – Replace your light bulbs with energy saving recommended ones: just one can reduce your lighting costs by up to £100 over the lifetime of the bulb – and they last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

What Next?

We have extensively researched the whole gas and electricity market to help you find who provides the best rates for you. We compare ALL tariffs from ALL gas and electricity suppliers.

This means in less than 5 minutes we can help you find the best supplier for your energy needs.

Take the 5 minute challenge and see how much you can save: http://energy.moneyexpert.com/

About the Author
MoneyExpert – Gas price comparison, Electricity price comparison, Compare Gas and Electricity

The Dangers of Comparison Websites (when searching for the cheapest gas and electricity)

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:04:28 +0000

The price of domestic gas and electricity has been a regular topic in the UK press over the last couple of weeks and for good reason. The current round of price increases that have just come into effect from many of the big utility companies have hit many people hard, not least the elderly and the lower wage earners. It is estimated that those who remained with their original supplier are now paying 20 – 30 percent more for their domestic fuel than those who have switched. With the current 14.2% extra added to the bill, and with the figures banded around that British Gas has lost nearly half a million customers this year alone, it is no surprise that the British public are saying enough is enough.

Privatisation and deregulation was supposed to put an end to the exorbitant prices these monopolies once could charge, but from where I stand, loyalty only seems to be rewarded by fleecing. New customers of these giant utility companies are treated preferentially to get them on board but only for a very short period before they too are moved to the ‘standard rate’ higher charges.

So the answer for the savvy consumer is to shop around – but therein lies another problem. Phoning around for quotes or visiting showrooms (those that are left) is time consuming. Very time consuming… and also challenging in so far as making the comparisons between all the different tariffs and options available. Hence, many are using the internet to do their searching. Typing “gas and electricity comparison” into a search field such as you’ll find on the Yahoo! homepage brings up plenty of sites claiming to make an ‘independent’ comparison. Probably the best known of these is Uswitch.com. I’ve read several articles recently in leading national papers extolling the virtues of these ‘independent and unbiased websites’ and how they “give you a completely impartial and objective assessment that leads to recommending the absolute best deal for you”.

But please, before you go off and start entering all your personal details into one of these online services, I implore you to stop and think just for one minute. How do you suppose these huge sites – that take a lot of man-hours to continually update and maintain – make their money? As a general rule, they don’t have lots of advertising banners plastered all over each page so they must get their revenue from elsewhere. And, yes, just like most other advisers or consultants, they get it from commissions. These are paid by the big corporate utilities to these ‘independent’ websites for each consumer that switches to them through the website.

Doing a little research by typing in exactly the same details, I found that different comparison websites produce different results even when they list the same companies! Clearly some of these websites are getting bigger commissions by recommending me certain deals over others. As well as having a tendency to recommend the deal that best suits them, they also only list ones that they can get a commission for, which mean not all of them list every option available for the individual consumer. Hardly independent and impartial! For instance, none of them list the Utility Warehouse and only a relatively few list Equipower/Equigas as neither of these providers will pay commissions to comparison website owners.

Yet for the vast majority of the British population, the Utility Warehouse are by far the best option provided you are happy with paying by Direct Debit. They guarantee to be the cheapest gas and electricity supplier in the UK for normal usage customers. Those on very low usage who can pay quarterly by cheque may find Equipower a better option. My advice is dig a bit deeper and you’ll discover more deals than these comparison websites have to offer. But that comes back to time and effort… two valuable ‘commodities’ most of the general public aren’t willing to use just to get lower bills.

So let me help you by leaving you with my research conclusions:
If you are like the vast majority of households in the UK on standard average or high usage, check out the Utility Warehouse guaranteed cheapest gas and electricity tariff! You’ll need to apply through one of their representatives – a good one can be found at www.cheapest-gas-supplier.co.uk or www.cheapest-electricity-supplier.co.uk .

If you are on a very low usage, then you may want to check out the Equipower/Equigas scheme by going to their website at www.ebico.co.uk .

Getting the cheapest gas and electricity shouldn’t be such a trial… but then again maybe that is what the big utility companies are relying on! Too bad you and I now know differently…

   Article written by Rudi Ashdown and first posted at
   http://www.whywebsiteswork.com .
   For a direct link to the cheapest gas and electricity in the UK:
   go to http://www.gas-electricity-comparison.co.uk
   ©Rudi Ashdown. copyright2005. All rights reserved.

How to change gas supplier or electricity supplier

admin — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:00:24 +0000

Competition in the gas and electricity markets means that you can now choose who supplies your gas and electricity. This information is designed to help you through the process of choosing and changing supplier so that you can choose the supplier that will be best for you.Choosing a new gas and electric supplier

There are many suppliers to choose from, regardless of where you live in Great Britain. You can choose separate companies to supply your cheap gas and cheap electricity, or you can choose one company to supply both – this is known as dual fuel. A list of the supply companies operating in your area, together with the prices they charge, is available from energywatch by calling 0845 906 0708.

In order to compare the prices being offered by different suppliers with the price from your current supplier, you will need to calculate how much you are currently paying for your fuel each year. You can work this out by looking at your last four quarterly bills. In addition to this there are a number of questions you may wish to ask before deciding to change to a new cheap gas or cheap electricity supplier.

Questions to ask

How much will the new supplier charge?
All suppliers are required to publish their prices. They can send you details of their prices upon request. Comparisons of the different prices charged by suppliers are published by energywatch. These can be requested from energywatch by calling 0845 906 0708.

To ensure you get the best deal, it is worth shopping around and making comparisons between the prices being offered by different gas and electricity suppliers in your area.

How can I pay?
Suppliers usually offer a variety of payment options to customers, varying in frequency from weekly to quarterly options and paying by cash, postal order, cheque, direct debit, or prepayment meter. Ask suppliers to tell you about all the payment options available to you so that you can make the best choice for you. You may also wish to make sure that there are no penalties for cancellation of the contract.

Which gas and electric tariff should I choose?
Be aware that some payment methods may be cheaper than others. For example, it is usually cheaper to pay your gas and electricity bills by monthly direct debit, than to pay by cheque on a quarterly basis. Different tariffs (or prices) are offered to different consumers according to their circumstances.

The amount of fuel you use will also have an effect upon the price you pay. Someone who uses a lot of energy may be offered an energy supply at a cheaper rate than someone who uses less. Whatever price you are quoted, you should ensure that it includes VAT.

Will the supplier offer any special discounts, schemes, or incentives?
Some suppliers may offer special discounts or incentives to consumers who want them to supply both their gas and electricity (i.e. dual fuel). Other suppliers have packages which may include other services such as cheaper telephone services or free or discounted air travel.

Some suppliers offer special payment schemes for pensioners. Make sure you ask for details before signing up.

Do they have any extra or hidden charges?
Some suppliers add a standing charge to your fuel bill and others do not. Those companies that do not add a standing charge may instead ask for a higher unit price for the gas and electricity you use.

Do they have a high number of complaints?
If you are interested in the type of service you are likely to receive from a new supplier, as well as the prices they will charge, it is worth enquiring about their performance. energywatch can provide details of the amount and types of complaints they have received from consumers about individual suppliers.

How to change gas or electricity supplier
Once you are happy that you have selected the supplier best suited to meet your needs, changing is a relatively simple process.

Step 1: Get in touch with the new supplier and agree a contract with them. Once the contract is agreed, the transfer process should take about six weeks to complete. Your new supplier will keep you informed about how your transfer is being progressed.

Step 2: Give your old supplier 28 days notice that you are changing to a new supplier. energywatch advises that you do this initially by telephone and follow it up with written confirmation. If you do not tell your old supplier that you are changing, this can disrupt or delay your transfer to the new supplier.

Step 3: Pay any outstanding bills owing to your existing supplier. If you do not, they may prevent you from transferring.

Step 4: Take a meter reading on the day you change supplier. If your old supplier does not use it to work out your final bill, or your new supplier does not use it as the starting point for your first bill, let them know the meter reading you have taken.

Gas electricity – Gas and electric savings for cheap gas and cheap electricity

admin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:00:20 +0000

With gas and electricity prices rising, now is a good time to look at how to save money on your gas and electric bills and get the help and advice you need.

Remember: there are still savings to be made by changing your gas supplier or electricity supplier. Anyone who has never switched their gas and electricity supplier can save about £100 a year, on average.
Also, gas and electricity suppliers have introduced a range of special tariffs and initiatives designed to help vulnerable customers, particularly older people, those on low incomes and those with disabilities.

Gas and electricity customers who are having difficulty heating their homes, or paying their bills – and need help – can now call a free number, no matter who their supplier is: Home Heat Helpline 0800 336699. Here you can get help and advice on identifying energy efficiency grants, arranging alternative payment methods, carrying out benefits checks and receiving specialist advice.