Who is Next?

Hot on the heels of first:utility's price change yesterday we have seen SSE Group announce price increases across its entire range of non fixed gas prices taking effect on the 1st November 2010.

Followed less than 2 hours later with a notification of a price change by LoCo2. We wonder who is next.....?

Earlier this year Energylinx reported how at the time of the supposed decreases in energy prices in March that there appeared to be a large take-up in what appeared to be a move to reflect european pricing models. This meant that whilst headline figures appeared to suggest price reductions in fact the consumer would be paying substantially more during the summer period. Energylinx warned that this would create a need to increase energy prices by around 10% by the end of the year. It would appear that this may be the start.

Over the next couple of weeks we could see some radical changes in the market. Customers must start looking now and ensure that they do indeed have a competitive rate from their energy supplier. If not, the message is clear - switch now.

There are some really good offers available at the moment, ranging from cashbacks, welcome offers and some long term fixed deals. It might well be time to take one of these offers before they are gone.

Customers can compare ALL of the suppliers and deals currently available by checking http://www.getmecheapbills.com

First Utility - Smart as Standard Smart meter tariff

first:utility have today launched "Smart as Standard V1" which is a dual fuel energy supply tariff with Smart Meters.

This will enable accurate billing and visibility of energy use on line through the first utility web site and Google power meter. Customers that successfully sign up to Smart as Standard dual fuel tariff will have their energy supplied by first:utility within the typical transfer window. These customers will be billed using the estimated annual consumption (EAC) given to us by their old supplier when they transfer, unless they supply meter reads. Each customer will have the ability to submit monthly meter reads via the customer portal. They will be prompted to do so by email. These reads will then be used to bill the customer accurately until the smart meters are installed.

Energylinx launched this new tariff across its network earlier today and has already seen a considerable interest in the tariff. Even though not the most competitive in the market it does appear to be gaining some immediate momementum. From a billing and payment perspective customers must pay by monthly direct debit and decide whether they wany online, or paper billing (paper billing option charged at £5 per month).

Utilitia Withdraws Tariffs

Utilita withdraws two tariffs:

With immediate effect Utilita has removed two tariffs, energysaverplus and planetsaver.

New Atlantic Energy tariffs

Atlantic Electric and Gas have today launched 'Atlantic Fixed Price 3'

As the name infers this is a fixed price tariff where prices are fixed for a period of 12 months from the day you sign up. Early termination fees of £35 per customer apply during the fixed period.

An online only account the tariff is available to dual fuel customers or electricity customers with no gas. Payment must be by monthly direct debit. At this stage it is NOT available for signup offline.

New Scottish Power capped tariff lauched

ScottishPower have launched Capped Price Energy December 2012.

Prices are capped to end of November 2012 and the tariff is available as a dual fuel tariff or single electricity.

Payment must be by monthly direct debit. Early Termination Fees apply. On and offline versions are available.

Available with immediate effect at http://getmecheapbills.com

New EDF Fixed Tariff Available.

EDF Energy have today launched Annual Fix v4.

This is a fixed price tariffs where tariff prices are fixed until the end of September 2011. Although early termination fees are payable to the value of £25 per fuel should customers join the tariff and subsequently move to another supplier or tariff it does have the benefit where these fees are not paid if the customer moves house, as would happen with some suppliers with early termination fees. E.ON Energy for example will maintain the charge even where a customer moves home.

EDF Energy offer this tariff as both a dual fuel and single fuel electricity tariff where customers can pay by either quarterly cash/cheque or monthly direct debit. At the end of September 2011 customers will be offered another tariff by EDF Energy, most likely in the same way that current customers of Annual Fix v4 (who signed up when it was first launched in 2009) are being automatically moved onto this new version. As to whether this is good for the customer will depend very much on the customer's personal circumstances. The key message is check to see what is available at the time. Just because a tariff was a great deal a year ago does not automatically mean that its as good today.

Customers should check their own personal needs at

http://www.getmecheapbills.com


The big question at the moment on everyone's mind is whether it is worth fixing or capping energy prices. With definite increases in wholesale energy on their way and with suppliers coming to the end of the summer season the one thing that is certain is that between now and Christmas we are going to see some increases across the market.

Npower to Repay Customers

Nearly two million homes overcharged for gas are to be refunded, in one of the biggest pay-outs of its kind.
Energy company Npower has agreed to hand back £70m following a long-running row over changes it made to the way it charged customers in 2007. The firm admits it had not communicated the changes well, and £1.8m people are to receive an average refund of £35.

Npower says it will write to all those affected over the next two months, even if they are no longer customers. In 2007, the company started charging households a fixed monthly number of more expensive initial gas units - known as primary block units. Previously the amount of primary units charged varied according to the time of year. At the same time, Npower lowered prices and introduced some discounts. As a result, some low-use customers were billed for more than the usual number of primary units, leaving them out of pocket. The company has always insisted most households benefited from the changes, but following an investigation by the industry regulator Ofgem, Npower initially agreed to repay 200,000 customers an average of £6 each. In a statement, Npower said "Although the vast majority of our customers benefited from the combined effect of the changes, some, who were low users of gas, did not" Watchdog Consumer Focus continued to campaign and some customers started legal action. Npower conducted a review of everyone who was a gas customer at the time and it has now agreed to make a much bigger payment to 1.8 million people. The refunds will range from £1 to £100, with an average refund of £35. In a statement, Npower said "We're sorry that the complexity of the changes we made caused confusion. We're now doing all we can to improve our communication with customers." Npower, which has 6.5 million customers in the UK, will be writing to those affected and offering payments that can be cashed at the Post Office.

Head of Consumer Focus Mike O'Connor said it was an "excellent outcome" and showed a "major commitment from Npower to its customers". "Consumer Focus has worked closely with Npower to ensure that refunds are made fairly and that no customer loses out," he said. "A huge amount of work and collaboration has resulted in the right thing being done by Npower for its customers and we welcome this. "It has been an great example of how consumer organisations can work with industry to deliver a fair deal for consumers."

Phoenix Energy are delighted with the move as it shows just how much the market has moved on since it was privatised as previously the voices of consumers would have gone unheard. Regardless of this positive gesture from npower, Phoenix would encourage all customers to carry out a comparison as soon as possible. With winter fast approaching the typical customer will see their day to day consumption increase by as much as 400% in coming months so now is the time to get onto the best tariff.

New Scottish Power tariffs

Scottish Power has today launched Online Energy Saver v11 and this is available immediately across all sales platforms.

Similar to Online Energy Saver v11 is an online product available to gas and electricity and electricity only customers. Prices are gauaranteed to be at least 2% below ScottishPower standard prices until 31st October 2011.

Early termination fees of £30 per fuel apply to customers joining the tariff then leaving before 31st October 2010.

Edf Price Increases - Hits 2.6 million people

EDF Energy will be implementing a price increase of 2.6% to some of its regional electricity tariffs in a number of areas* affecting a minority of its electricity customers. This follows a review of its electricity prices after an average rise of 16% in distribution and transmission costsi since its last electricity price change in March 2009.

Distribution and transmissions costs currently represent around a fifth of a customer electricity bill. A typical electricity customer affected by this price adjustment will pay less than £1 extra a month.
EDF Energy understands that in these difficult economic times, any increase in prices can have an effect on household budgets. Energylinx has launched these prices across all its platforms withe immediate effect althoigh existing customers will not actually pay any more until the 1st October.

New Ovo Pice Increases

OVO Energy has today launched updated prices for their gas and electricity tariffs, New Energy and Green Energy.

With OVO Energy prices are fixed for a period of 12 months from the date the customer joins them. There is unfortunately early termination fees payable should the customer leave within the first 12 months.

OVO Energy follows EDF Energy and British Gas who have both announced increases across their most competitive online tariffs within the last week.

As Energylinx predicted back in March 2010 we will now start to see all energy companies forced to increase their energy prices, not as a result of changes to wholesale energy costs but related to the adoption of European pricing models earlier this year - meaning that their current prices are no longer sustainable.

New British Gas Tariff

Hot on the heels of the recent tariff launches by EDF Energy and npower British Gas has today launched Web Saver 9.

Similar to its predecessor Web Saver 8 this is British Gas’ most competitive online tariff available as a dual fuel, electricity only or gas only product. Customers do need to have access to the internet to obtain this tariff as it comes with online account management.

Across the UK on average the increase from WebSaver8 to WebSaver 9 is 8.93%. Customers living in London, Norweb and Seeboard areas see the highest increases of 11.3%, 10.17% and 10.24% respectively.

The rules surrounding the tariff are straightforward in that customers:
1. Need to pay by Monthly Direct Debit
2. New customers need to take gas and electricity
3. Existing customers can select gas and electricity or electricity only

In terms of benefits to the consumer, a guaranteed discount period is offered, with a minimum 6% discount against British Gas standard tariff prices until 1st November 2011 Customers are encouraged to compare their current energy tariffs against the entire market regularly over the next few months as we start to see the predicted increases taking effect.

First Utility Price Increases - 23%!

First Utility has increased energy prices for its existing customers by up to a quarter.

The start-up supplier has put up some of its prices by 23%, paving the way for the possibility of a new raft of increases from the “big six” energy companies.Customers who are on First Utility's two variable online dual fuel tariffs - isave v1 and isave v2 - can expect increases to their energy bills.

Based on an average household, the isave v2 tariff has risen by 23.3% to £1136 a year from £921.This deal is now £254 more expensive than the best online dual fuel deal, SaveOnline v2 from E.ON which stands at £882 a year, according to figures from moneysupermarket.com Meanwhile, the isave v1 has also gone up from £965 a year on average to £1136 a year - an increase of 17.7%.

The news of price hikes is a stark contrast from earlier this year when First Utility named itself a price pioneer and the first energy firm in the UK to offer a dual fuel tariff costing less than £900.

Mark Daeche, chief executive officer of First Utility, said: "Last year Ofgem agreed to increase the charges that the gas and electricity distribution and transmission companies charge all Energy Suppliers. The increase in these charges came into effect on 1 April 2010.“This is an industry-wide pricing change that all suppliers in the energy marketplace have to deal with.

Daeche also blamed the rise in energy wholesale prices for the price hikes. He added: “In addition wholesale energy prices have increased significantly since March 2010.“We have been able to absorb these additional costs and delay increasing our prices until now, however it is has become apparent that these costs are likely to remain high for the foreseeable future. “We will be reviewing this situation on a regular basis so that we can pass on price reductions directly to the consumer as soon as we can. “At the end of July First Utility pulled two of its online deals - the smart online saver 4 and the isave V3.2 - and lauched its isave v 4 and smart online saver 5

Is this the start of a new round of price increases from the 'big 6'? We recommend shopping around in order to obtain the best deals - particularly First Utility customers and customers coming off fixed price deals

http://www.getmecheapbills.com lists all of the energy deals currently on offer. Check now to see how much you could save.

Customer's Rates Increase as EDF Top Deal Ends

Tens of thousands of EDF Energy customers are facing hikes in the cost of their gas and electricity as price rises in the energy market continue to gather pace.

Approximately 60,000 households on the provider's cheap Online Energy Version 5 deal will be automatically transferred to the provider's standard tariff in just over a week.

This means a typical household will pay £1,088 a year, instead of the current £941, when the switch takes place on 1 August. That's almost a £150 annual hike, though higher users will pay far more.

In May, Npower also raised prices for existing customers by up to 25% on a number of online tariffs by moving them to the firm's standard deal.

What's more, the best deals for new customers are disappearing in their droves. The trend began in May when Ovo Energy withdrew a then table-topping deal, while most of the major energy firms have followed since.

Analysts warn prices could increase further due to the rising price of energy on the wholesale markets, where energy firms buy their power from.

EDF complaints

EDF has written to affected customers over the past few weeks, saying in its letters: "From 1 August 2010, we'll be aligning your prices with our competitively priced standard tariff.

"We're always looking for new ways that we can help you save energy, and money too."

We have received a number of complaints from EDF customers about the level of the hike and the short notice.

Steve Kendrick, from Reading, says: "Luckily, I bother to read and check these figures out.

"I feel other EDF customers who have this tariff should also be warned about the huge price increases EDF could impose."

Another comment we received reads: "Yes it (EDF's standard tariff) is competitively priced compared with other standard tariffs, but is rubbish compared with some of the deals you can get by using one of the comparison sites.

"Also, two weeks' notice does not give you much time to switch before the price goes up."

Archna Luthra, MoneySavingExpert.com consumer products analyst, says: "Placing customers by default on a far pricier tariff is simply not good enough. Yes, EDF says customers should switch but it knows full well many households won't act, meaning it can line its pockets with more of their cash.

"Those who have been moved to the standard tariff should jump on a comparison site and switch to the cheapest deal they find."

EDF's response

An EDF spokeswoman says: "Online prices are often time-limited to better reflect wholesale market movements and allow customers to choose regularly what tariff they want to be on.

"A typical customer on the version 5 online tariff will have saved £445 on average compared to our standard prices since the tariff was launched on 5 January 2007.

"For regulatory and legal reasons we cannot move customers to another online tariff but we would encourage customers to sign up to another online tariff."

What should EDF customers do?

Affected EDF customers, and anyone else who has not switched recently, should check the best available deals.

To find the cheapest option, compare the tariffs available via a comparison site and switch using

If you've never switched before, you could save hundreds of pounds per year. Those on a standard tariff, where you get your bills by post and pay on receipt, often pay around £300 a year more than the cheapest option (they pay a typical £1,200 a year).

The cheapest deals are available to those who get bills by email and pay by direct debit.

When switching, don't believe the hype from the major firms which often claim they have the cheapest prices.

The energy market is complicated so determining which is the top provider for you depends on where you live and how much power you use.

This is why a comparison, based on your circumstances, is key.



Story courtesy of MoneySavingExpert
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New Scottish Power Tariff

ScottishPower has today removed Online Energy Saver 9 from the market and launched Online Energy Saver 10.

With Online Energy Saver 10 prices are guaranteed to remain a minimum of 2% below ScottishPower’s standard monthly Direct Debit gas and electricity prices until 31st October 2011.

Early termination fees do apply for anyone joining then leaving before 31st October 2011. As with all ScottishPower tariffs at the moment Online Energy Saver comes with £25 cashback per fuel. This is on top of any other offers in the market at this time.

Ovo Energy to Pay Interest on Account Credits

New market entrant Ovo Energy is to pay interest to customers whose accounts are in credit. From July this year, the firm will offer 3 per cent to customers in the form of a credit.

Founder Stephen Fitzpatrick told Utility Week that the company now has 30,000 customers, with 12,000 switching in April and May this year alone. He said turnover is around £36 million and that the firm "is not operating a loss leader strategy".

Fitzpatrick added that the bulk of Ovo customers were on its 'new energy' tariff, of which green energy makes up 15 per cent.

The company also plans to start rolling out smart meters by the end of the year.

It will be very interesting to see if the major suppliers follow suit and this becomes the industry norm.

All Ovo Energy tariffs can be found on http://www.getmecheapbills.com

British Gas Websaver tariff updated

British Gas has today launched WebSaver 8 as a replacement to WebSaver 7. The key features of the tariff are: *This tariff is available to credit meter customers in all regions. *Only available to new customers taking Dual Fuel and existing customers taking Dual or Single fuel. *Only available to customers paying by Direct Debit. *A guaranteed discount period is offered, with a minimum 6% discount against our standard tariff prices until 1st October 2011. *Whether prices go up, down or remain the same, WebSaver 8 will be a minimum 6% below the standard tariff rates.

CashBack from Scottish Power

ScottishPower have launched a cashback offer of £25 per fuel effective from now until midnight Wednesday 19th May.

The cashback is shown on the results pages but not factored into the resulting new cost so that this complies with the Consumer Focus Code in that one off offers are not included.

Ovo Energy

OVO Energy has today removed its range of variable rate tariffs from the market and at the same time made changes to their gas and electricity prices.

OVO Energy cite the recent increases of wholesale gas prices as the reason for this increase.
OVO Energy's latest rates are available with immediate effect at




Ovo Energy has hiked the price of what price comparison site Energyhelpline.com says was the market-leading tariff from £855 a year, based on average consumption, to £926.

Ovo blames a rise in wholesale costs, which is the price power firms pay for gas and electricity.

Energyhelpline.com says the new cheapest deal is Npower's Sign Online 18 at a typical £876 a year.

The news comes as tens of thousands of Npower customers are set to see their costs soar from next month.

Ovo founder Stephen Fitzpatrick says: "Wholesale prices have risen considerably since we last bought energy – rising by 20% in the last two weeks.

"To reflect this rise, we have returned our tariffs to the rates we were offering a month ago."

How to find the cheapest deals

Households can sometimes cut their bills by hundreds by doing a comparison of the tariffs available and switching

Those languishing on their supplier's standard tariff or who get bills through the post are almost certainly paying too much.

While the cheapest online deals for typical users are less than £900 a year, those on a standard tariff typically pay around £1,200.

When switching, don't believe the hype from the major firms which often claim they have the cheapest prices. The energy market is complicated so determining which is the cheapest provider for you depends on where you live and how much power you use.

New NPower Tariffs

npower has today, 6th April, launched two new tariffs: SOLv18 and Price Guarantee.

SOLv8 is npower's most competitive online tariff and is positioned to make it a very strong contender to OVO Energy's tariffs which have held the number one position across almost all standard scenarios since launch. Like more and more 'standard' type tariffs SOLv18 does come with early termination fees should customers decide to leave before 30th June 2011.

Price Guarantee offers the customer the ability to cap their energy prices up to 31st May 2011. Surprisingly this tariff carries no exist penalties. With these tariffs npower has made its position clear that it clearly wishes to operate in the competitive arena.

All indications would suggest that these tariffs will create a bit of a stir when UK markets open tomorrow.

Scottish power - gas price cut

Scottish Power has announced it is to cut gas prices by an average of 8% from the end of March.
The company said its 1.6 million domestic gas customers would save an average of £66 a year on their bills.

In addition, 60,000 customers who have been identified as vulnerable and who heat their homes with electricity are to get a £50 rebate.

On Wednesday, EDF Energy said it was reducing its residential gas prices by 4%, the second cut in six months.

Energy suppliers have been criticised for not passing on cuts in wholesale oil and gas prices to customers.
Wholesale gas prices dropped sharply from February 2009, and domestic prices dropped in the spring.
Scottish Power's director of energy retail, Raymond Jack, said: "Typically, less than 60% of a bill is now based on wholesale costs.

"Investment, government obligations and the delivery of energy to the home make up a significant portion of our bills."

Npower - rate cut

npower has today reduced its gas prices across the following tariffs: Standard Juice National Trust Energy SOL4 SOL5 SOL6 Go Save.

They have also increased their discounts available to customers paying by direct debit (quarterly and monthly direct debit customers now receive the same discount). They have decreased the dual fuel element of the discount however and this means that the overall headline maximum discount available remains the same.

Energylinx has launched the prices across all it platforms with immediate effect, so new customers can benefit from the new prices immediately.

Existing customers and those in the process of switching will benefit from these prices on the 26th March 2010.

E.ON - March 2010

E.ON has today at 1030 announced a price cut of 6%** off its standard gas prices.

E.ON are quoted as saying that "Around 1.9 million residential gas customers will benefit from this gas price decrease of around £42 equivalent to 6%" Effectively what appears to be happening is that monthly direct debit customers are being offered a discount of £42 per annum.

At this stage however E.ON have not provided any additional information to any broker and are unable to provide revised pricing schedules. E.ON have stated that these should be distributed to all parties within the next few days. Until we have these revised schedules we cannot comment on the direct benefit to the consumer other than to acknowledge the fact of their statement.

E.ON FACTS • E.ON is one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies – generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas – and is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies;

E.ON has around 5.5 million customers in the UK;

E.ON previously reduced their energy prices by 9% for electricity on 31st March 2009 and by 3.3% for gas on 4th July 2009. ** Around 1.9 million residential gas customers will benefit from this gas price decrease of around £42 equivalent to 6%;

New EDF Fixed Tariff Available.

With the original EDF Energy Annual Fix Version 2 tariff coming to an end at the end of March. EDF has today launched a new version of Annual Fix Version 2 where the rates are fixed to March 2011.
The key features of the tariff are: Direct Debit Electricity – 6% Direct Debit Gas – 6% Dual Fuel - £8.40 (inc VAT) Fixed to 31st March 2011 Early redemption fees apply of £25 per fuel if customer's join and leave before 31st March 2011.
Available to dual fuel and electric only (although electric only is only available direct through EDF Energy.)

First Utility - February 2010

first:utility have today launched their Standard Dual Fuel Tariff.
This is available across the UK for customers wishing to pay by quarterly cash/cheque or monthly direct debit.
Quarterly cash/cheque customers pay £4 per month more than monthly direct debit customers. Bills can either be sent by post (at the cost of £1 per month) or provided online for free.
A dual discount of 5% is payable after 12 consecutive payments. Customers in regions 11 and 14 will be offered a free smart meter.
first:utility have issued a press release stating that this tariff beats British Gas across the UK.

This is not exactly correct and this depends on the exact selection made by the customer. What we can say however is that based on a standard customer (20,500kWhs of gas and 3,300 kWhs of electric) paying by monthly direct debit and happy to be online then this tariff is the cheapest in three UK areas: Manweb, Scottish Hydro-Electric and ScottishPower.

Currently for some reason first:utility are not offering this tariff online through either their own service or via any broker. Customers can only apply by using a direct telephone number so we are not sure as to whether this is just a headline grabbing tariff or one for the long term.
As is usual Energylinx is first to have this tariff displayed across its platforms so at this time you will only see this on Energylinx powered platforms. No doubt this will change over the next few days as others update their databases.