Energy switching

A new automatic energy switching service that promises to move you whenever a cheaper deal comes along launches today.

More customers than ever are switching energy suppliers, with increasing numbers deserting the traditional big six firms in favour of smaller providers, a new report has revealed.

Energy regulator Ofgem has ordered big six provider Npower to co-operate with its upcoming collective switch trial, aimed at helping thousands of the supplier's customers to find a better deal. 

Energy supplier Outfox the Market has announced it is increasing the price of its variable tariff by 7.4% – meaning a typical household can no longer get an energy deal for less than £900/year.

Energy supplier Ovo is set to change its current online discount scheme which could see customers who call or tweet it hit with higher bills.  

Economy Energy is hitting thousands of customers with an astonishing £300+/year rise – but many will be able to escape it by switching away, or in some cases an admin blunder means they'll beat the hike.  The fact the price is rising is not a surprise, as most energy firms are increasing costs. What is shocking is the scale of the rise, which is as big as we can remember in recent years. While on average it will lead to a rise of £311/yr on typical use – 38% – some are set to be hit with an increase of up to £460/yr. The hike hits on Sunday 7 October. As it's a variable tariff you can at least switch penalty-free, but we have learned scores of bill-payers were wrongly told it was actually a fixed deal whereby the price per unit of energy was fixed for a year. This admin blunder was made in a 'welcome' email sent by Economy Energy. After MoneySavingExpert.com got involved, Economy Energy told us by phone it would not levy the hike on anyone who could prove they got this email (see it below, with the important lines highlighted). But since, when we've asked for confirmation in writing all throughout this week, it's gone quiet, which we find outrageous. However, some MoneySavers who got this email have told us they've successfully challenged the rise.

Green energy supplier Bulb is raising its prices for the third time this year, with 750,000 existing customers to be hit by a whopping rise of over 11% in November.

A merger between Npower and SSE has been given a provisional green light, meaning the big six energy firms could be reduced to five.

Almost one million Scottish Power customers will see their gas and electricity bills rise by an average of 3.7% or £46 a year, after the firm announced its second price hike of the year.