Utilities

Energy companies have been called on to voluntarily stop the practice of forcibly moving customers to prepayment meters without taking every step to support households struggling to pay bills first. The message has been put forward in a letter to firms from business and energy secretary, Grant Shapps. It follows a reported surge in households being moved to prepayment meters over recent months.

Virgin Mobile customers will start being migrated to O2 plans from March this year, Virgin Media O2 has revealed, with millions of mobile customers affected. Here's what you need to know.

Wholesale energy rates have dropped rapidly in recent months and there are many myths about what it means and what it doesn't flying around social media. In the latest episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, MSE's founder Martin Lewis explains what's really going to happen to bills – below is the crucial six-minute explainer.

The new level of the energy price guarantee came into effect from 1 January. While there's little change for most on direct debit, those paying in other ways may pay more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has written to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, especially over the increase for many of the nation's poorest.

Virgin Media, RAC and Sky are the top firms to haggle with, a new MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) poll of over 3,000 people has found, with over 80% of those who tried negotiating with these three firms having some success, compared to 66% on average.

The alternative fuel payment, which will give £200 to households that don't use mains gas, will be made "as soon as possible in the New Year", according to the Government. We've full info on what the scheme is and how it'll work below. 

With many complaining about unfair energy direct debit hikes, we take a look at variable direct debits, and MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shows you when it's worth considering them.

More than one in five energy users on traditional prepayment meters say they're yet to receive EITHER of their £66 Government energy help vouchers for October and November, with customers of British Gas being the worst hit, according to a MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) survey of over 5,500 people.

With energy bills almost doubling this winter and looking set to rise again by more than 40% next year, MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis takes a detailed look at the current situation and how much higher bills might climb in 2023. Martin also runs through the crucial financial help available in the latest episode of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live (watch the full episode).

Energy suppliers have been told to do more to help support vulnerable customers this winter by the energy regulator. Improvements called for include demonstrating more clearly how pre-payment customers, who may be self-disconnecting, are identified and supported.