Ofgem report 'helping Britons to save cash'

Thursday, July 1st 2010

Many Britons looking to shrink the size of their bills have been given a boost in recent times thanks to an investigation by Ofgem.

The regulator discovered a number of unjustified tariff premiums on the market, which have been significantly reduced since it published its findings.

It has also triggered a 40 per cent drop in the average cost of running a prepaid meter to power a home compared with using direct debit.

"We want customers to have a much better picture of their energy consumption and how much they are spending. Clearer bills and annual statements will put all this information at their fingertips," explains Sarah Harrison, senior partner in sustainable development at Ofgem.

However, there are still problems to be solved before every home enjoys the cheaper rates, as two firms may still be charging an unfair rate, the study found.

People hoping to reduce their energy bills further were given advice by the San Francisco Chronicle this week, which suggested insulation is one of the best ways to save power.