Tag Archives: cheapest energy supplier

Four Suppliers Join in Energy Price Fray Today

Today has officially been the busiest day of the year for energy price cuts with four suppliers announcing changes. The day started with E.ON knocking smaller rival First:Utility off the cheapest supplier spot by cutting its online prices by £19. But in a David and Goliath move, First:Utility hit back, cutting its online prices by £13 from £967 a year to £954 a year on average.

The move sees First:Utility back in place as Britain’s cheapest supplier, although E.ON’s plan is available countrywide while First:Utility’s plan is only available in 12 out of 14 energy regions.

ScottishPower also ventured into the fray, but its move was more cautious. It has cut its gas rates in 5 regions taking the annual bill on its Online Energy Saver 7 plan to £972 from £975.

The final moves of the day are on mainstream rather than online plans. EDF Energy has changed its direct debit discount for standard customers from a fixed annual discount to a 6% discount. This will cut bills for the average customer from £1,147 to £1,118. It is also cutting prices for gas only customers. These moves mean that EDF Energy now offers the cheapest dual fuel standard plan paying by monthly direct debit and is thecheapest gas only supplier.

Will Marples, energy expert at uSwitch.com, says: “Given the amount of speculation and debate about price cuts this week, these moves could be seen as a bit of a peace offering. They don’t have the impact of a full blown price cut, but in the run up to winter they will be welcome. Whether consumers will be completely appeased remains to be seen, but the key thing now is to move to one of these competitive plans to make sure you benefit from lower prices in time for winter.”

Via EPR Network
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E.ON Now Cheapest Energy Supplier

The online price war has claimed another casualty. E.ON has cut its prices on its FixOnline3 plan, knocking First:Utility off the cheapest supplier spot. The move ends First:Utility’s winning bid to go head-to-head with the big six suppliers on price. At £962 E.ON’s plan undercuts the smaller supplier by £5, but E.ON’s plan is also available countrywide while First:Utility’s plan is only available in 12 out of 14 energy regions.

E.ON’s price cut comes at the same time as it is writing to customers who are coming to the end of a fixed price deal. E.ON is moving them onto a new fixed price plan which costs £1,198 a year. However, customers would be better off moving to the supplier’s more competitive online plan instead, saving £236 in the process. There are no exit penalties to take into account before making the move.

Will Marples, energy expert at uSwitch.com, says: “This is great timing for E.ON customers who are coming to the end of their fixed price plan. The supplier has already contacted them with a view to moving them onto a new fixed price deal, but its online plan is now £236 cheaper. I suspect that many customers will be taking this option instead.

“Thankfully there are no exit penalties, so even if you have already been moved onto the fixed price plan it’s not too late to change your mind. All you have to do is let your supplier know.”

Via EPR Network
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Household Energy Prices Are Set To Tumble Again As E.ON Launches A New Online Energy Plan

The new plan sees E.ON become Britain’s second cheapest energy supplier, coming just behind EDF Energy. E.ON’s energy plan averages out at £1,017 a year, while EDF Energy’s average bill size comes in at £983. However, EDF Energy’s plan is only available in 10 out of 14 energy regions, which means that many households will not be able to benefit.

British Gas has been forced into third place by today’s move, leading to mounting speculation that Britain’s biggest supplier could make a bid to regain its crown by bringing out a market beating new plan. This would be even better news for consumers as it would push the cost of online energy plans down even further.

The online price war is also proving very timely for consumers coming off fixed price energy plans this year. There are 4.6 million UK households currently on fixed or capped energy plans – many of these were savvy enough to fix their prices last year therefore avoiding much of last year’s price hikes.

However, many of these plans are coming to an end and households will be thrown back onto the market. If they don’t act they could be pushed back onto a standard energy plan, which would see their annual bill increase by just under £100. However, if they take advantage and move to the cheapest online energy plan they could actually see their energy bill fall by £62.

Will Marples, energy expert at uSwitch.com, says: “The online price war is hotting up and energy prices are coming down as a result. If consumers want to benefit they need to ditch their expensive standard plans and move to one of the new online energy plans. The average standard plan is £1,239 a year while the average online plan is now £1,025 a year – this is an easy saving of £214 a year for the average household.

It’s also good news for people coming off low price fixed rate deals. They managed to avoid much of the 42% hike in prices last year and are still sitting on a competitive plan today. Now, as this plan comes to an end, they have the option to move online and save a further £62 on the cost of their energy. This is a real lifeline to those who were worried about where they were going to go next and who could see that moving back to a standard energy plan was going to cost them dear.”

Via EPR Network
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