Households hand over an average £50 extra for their energy this year, due to the fact that E.On’s planned price hike of 3.5 per cent, finishing this winter’s series of bill risings from the Big Six.
The most significant providers agreed to freeze the prices until the Spring of 2015 and some of them even reduced the costs, in order to accord the bill-payers some more breathing space. However, numerous families will want to secure their personal bank balances from the future hikes and establish longer fixed deals. The great news is that small provider Sainsbury’s Energy has released an innovative fixed-price tariff, protecting households from other increases until April 2018.
British Gas – In November, the customers noticed their bills raised by 9.2 per cent, but the green tax reduced it by 3.2 per cent on January 1. Now, the bill costs around £1,265 a year, but British Gas assures to freeze varying rate prices until the Summer of 2015.
EDF Energy – The prices raised by 3.9 per cent on January 3, an increase considering the anticipated green tax and also a £12 rebate. Now, the supplier’s standard tariff is settled on an average of £1,237 per year and the providers say that variable prices will freeze until 2015.
E.On – Reflecting the reduction in green tax, the costs went up by 3.5 per cent on January 18, as well as including £12 rebate to the customers. The supplier has not assured the prices freezing, but it explained it is improbable to increase the prices pending the next 18 months, just until the Spring of 2015. The bill is now estimated at about £1,240.
Npower – The provider increased the prices at the beginning of last December, by whooping 10.4 per cent. From February 28, they will reduce the prices by £38 and they will also offer £12 rebate later this year. After cuts the average bill will cost £1,299, Npower accepting to hold variable costs now until the Spring of 2015.
Scottish Power – They also raised the costs by 8.6 per cent at the start of December, but they will cut the prices by £54 on January 31 and freeze variable costs until the year 2015. The medium standard tariff stands at about £1,284.
SSE – They declared an increase of 8.2 per cent starting early in the November of the last year, but it will cut prices by about £50 since March 24. Likewise, they agreed to freeze costs until the Spring of 2015, bringing the bill down to around £1,259 a year.
The cheapest fix available now is provided by Spark Energy’s Advance 3. The costs are £1,025 for the average user, but you have no guarantees that prices won’t rise and you also have to pay for your energy up front.
Considering that the bill costs £1,316 a year for an average household and the medium standard tariff offered by supplier stands at £1,264 a year, the households will pay more £52. On the other hand, the determined plan lasts until March 31of the year 2018, so the households can successfully avoid a period of four years of potential rate risings.
