Gas

Customers who move to the cheapest energy tariffs are facing eye-watering price rises once those deals end, research has found. But you can stay one step ahead of these hikes by switching suppliers.

More than 3.8 million people switched their energy supplier between January and June this year, up 32% on the same period in 2015, according to figures released today by energy regulator Ofgem.

A major flaw in the way some gas meters are read is an industry-wide problem that may have affected as many as 11,000 energy customers, with many having been overcharged and owed a refund by suppliers, it was revealed today.

Thousands of gas customers could be due a refund from energy companies after big six supplier E.on spotted a major flaw in the way some meters are being read.

Energy regulator Ofgem has announced that an interim price cap set to save four million people on prepay meters around £75/year will come into effect from next April.

Concerns about energy provider SSE's approach to switching its customers – and particularly those in vulnerable situations – onto prepay meter tariffs has sparked an investigation by the energy regulator.

The super-cheap energy tariffs we've seen over the last few months are starting to disappear, exclusive MoneySavingExpert.com research has revealed. So while winter energy bills may seem a distant prospect amid soaring summer temperatures, now could be your last chance to lock in a cheap price for when the cold comes.

British Gas has rolled out a tariff offering customers eight hours of free electricity over weekends if they have one of the company's smart meters installed in their home. But while it will cut costs for existing customers, it's still considerably more expensive than the cheapest energy deals available on the market.

If you're switching between many of the big energy providers you'll now benefit from 10 'commitments' guaranteeing a smooth and hassle-free transition – but if suppliers fail to deliver, you may still need to get the Ombudsman involved.