Compare energy tariffs before EDF price freeze ends urges Energychoices.co.uk
Energychoices.co.uk is urging consumers to shop around for a new energy tariff as a further 3.3 million people prepare to be hit by price hikes.
As EDF Energy becomes the last of the “big six” energy suppliers to put up its prices, Energychoices.co.uk is encouraging people to get online to compare gas and electricity prices and switch to a better, more affordable tariff as soon as possible.
EDF Energy announced that its winter price freeze will come to an end at the beginning of March and as a result 3.3 million of its customers will see their electricity and gas bills jump up.
On average EDF Energy is set raise its standard residential tariffs for gas bills by 6.5% and electricity bills by 7.5%.
Chris Eagle, commercial manager at Energychoices.co.uk, says: “Although EDF has held off from putting up its prices longer than all the other major suppliers – and avoided doing it during one of the coldest winters on record – this price hike is one of the larger ones and is still not going to be welcome.
“It will be especially galling for EDF customers who remember that the supplier already put up its electricity prices 3% back in October.”
The rise means that the average household energy bill for a dual fuel EDF Energy customer will now go up from £1,046 to £1,118 – an increase of £72 a year.
Since the other main suppliers started putting up their prices back in November, a further £560 million has been added onto our energy bills, highlighting how important it is to find the cheapest deal available.
In fact, by January price hikes from five out of the “big six” energy firms saw the typical household energy bill shoot up to an average £1,250.
Eagle adds: “EDF’s move has completed the latest series of prices hikes from all of the “big six” suppliers and means that it is the ideal time to start comparing tariffs and shopping around for a better deal.
“With energy prices soaring, consumers need to do all they can to cut costs. This includes implementing as many energy efficient measures as possible to reduce consumption, but most importantly it involves going online to compare energy tariffs and switching to a better deal where possible. “
About Energychoices.co.uk
Energychoices.co.uk is a price comparison website which offers comprehensive and impartial advice on home energy services. It is an independent service for consumers who want to compare gas and electricity prices and save money on their bills.
New research from Energychoices.co.uk shows Brits can save more than 60% on a boiler service just by shopping around
Consumers can cut nearly two-thirds off the cost of getting their boiler serviced if they shop around for the best price, research from Energychoices.co.uk has discovered.
It may take 20minutes, but it pays to call several heating engineers for quotes before asking one to service your boiler, research from energy comparison service Energychoices.co.uk has found.
On average, consumers could save 61% on the cost of a boiler service simply by comparing quotes from different plumbers in their area.
In nine of the 12 towns and cities used in the research, the gap between the cheapest service and the most expensive was more than 50%. For example, in Southampton, the cost of a boiler service ranged from £55 to £90, a difference in price of 64% between the highest and lowest quote.
The worst case scenario was in Cambridge, where the cheapest boiler service quote found by Energychoices.co.uk was £42 including VAT, whereas the most expensive cost £118 including VAT – a difference of 181%.
If you’re fortunate enough to live in happening Manchester, you’ll lose out on boiler servicing as its was the home of the most expensive quote for a service. One company said it would cost £120 to do the job.
In contrast, the cheapest place to get your boiler serviced appears to be just 70 miles away in Nottingham, where residents could get their boiler checked out for just £35.
The research from Energychoices.co.uk found that there is a huge disparity in the cost of a boiler service throughout the country and getting a fair quote is not as straightforward as it might seem.
Chris Eagle, commercial manager at Energychoices.co.uk, says: “In order to get a fair and accurate quote you should ring around at least three heating engineers in your area. The cost of a boiler service is likely to vary dramatically, so it is best to have a clear picture of your options before making a decision.”
Throughout the country, Energychoices.co.uk found that the average cost of a boiler service was £70, so this should be the ball park figure to have in mind when you start your enquiries.
To make sure you get the most appropriate quote, Energychoices.co.uk recommends the following tips:
- Ask the plumber/heating engineer whether the price quoted includes VAT
- Make sure you have the age and make of your boiler to hand – this should avoid any confusion on cost later on
- Ask them whether there is an additional call out fee and whether you may need to pay for their parking
- Only use an engineer certified by Gas Safety Register (formerly Corgi).
Eagle adds: “To save yourself the hassle of ringing around numerous plumbers, it could be a good idea to compare boiler insurance from a company like HomeServe or The AA. Policies from providers like this usually include an annual boiler service in their prices.
“You can even save time by using our online tradesman search tool – just type in your postcode and you will get up to five quotes from plumbers or heating engineers in your local area for free.” Find it at: http://www.energychoices.co.uk/service-magic-boiler-quote.html
*Notes for editors
Energychoices.co.uk is a price comparison website which offers comprehensive and impartial advice on home and business energy services. It is an independent service for consumers who want to save money on their gas and electricity bills.
Energychoices.co.uk called five plumbers in a single postcode in each major city of 12 different UK regions, between 12 January and 27 January 2011 to find out how much a boiler service would cost.
The plumbers were then found via a postcode search on Yell.com and the first five selected.
The companies were asked for the cost of a boiler service including VAT, if there was a call out charge and how long the service would take, based on servicing a five-year old Baxi Combi boiler last serviced three years before.