British Gas

British Gas has scrapped its standard variable tariff for new customers and those currently on a fixed deal - but the replacement tariff is only £25 a year cheaper.

All energy firms will be banned from back-billing customers beyond 12 months under stricter new rules.

The roll-out of next generation smart meters which allow you to switch energy provider without losing their smart features is likely to be delayed, after the Government announced energy firms will be allowed to keep installing first-generation smart meters for an extra three months .

Npower is running a trial that could see an end to its standard variable tariff – for the first time it's moving some customers onto another fixed deal at the end of their current contract. But most could still save by switching.

The number of customers ranking their energy company's customer service as 'poor' has increased across the board, according to our latest poll of MoneySavingExpert.com users.

Some 1,600 British Gas customers have been told their account number, name and email address may have been involved in a "breach of security" last month, after a "third party" got the login details from another website the affected customers use.

British Gas has pledged to scrap its standard variable tariff for new customers next year, replacing it with a one-year tariff with no exit fees – but it so far can't promise the new deal will be any cheaper.

Three out of five households are still paying an average £300 more than they need to for their energy despite near-record switching rates this year.

A MoneySaver who switched away from British Gas to a rival energy provider has been charged £40 in exit fees – even though he completed his switch within the last 49 days of his energy fix, when exit fees should be waived.

British Gas has finally revealed its worst kept secret by announcing a 12.5% rise in electricity prices, with bills for a typical dual-fuel household on its standard tariff set to jump by £76 to £1,120 per year.