D.C Computer Solutions CHEEP GAS & ELECTRICITY : PRICES.

Millions on standard tariffs can currently save over £300 a year by switching to the cheapest online deals, plus get up to £30 cashback or a crate of wine for doing it.



And it's no big deal: only price and customer service change - you get the same gas, electricity, pipes, meter & safety.



Latest News February 2011

It’s the PERFECT time to switch – save £300



ALL of the big six energy providers have now announced price hikes of up to 9%. They’ve all taken effect apart from the last to announce, EDF, whose 7% rise hits on 2 March – though it's already factored into comparison sites.



That means compare now, and it’s a level playing field, as they’re all on the same leg of the price rise relay the cheapest now really is the cheapest. The sooner you switch the sooner you save, so we're on an Urgent 'SWITCH NOW' status.





In this guide

Is it time to switch?

Switch now, but with caution

Should I fix now?

It may be best if you need surety

The 8 energy bill cutting rules

Tips and tricks to help you switch

Full energy Q&A Best Buys: Switch & get cashback

£15 for single fuel switchers

With top pick Energyhelpline

£30 for dual fuel switchers

Or go for freebies inc. 12 bottles of wine

Discuss this guide

Add your comments in the forum

Other Travel MoneySaving ArticlesCheapest Gas & Electricity

Cheapest Boiler Cover

Grant Grabbing

Benefits Checklist

Heating & Fuel Oil

Energy Direct Debits Is it time to switch?

Latest News

Eon to raise energy prices

11 Jan '11

Brace yourself for record winter energy bills

16 Dec '10

Npower to hike energy prices in January

10 Dec '10

EDF table-topping energy deal set to disappear

09 Dec '10

Which energy firm is worst for customer service?

08 Dec '10

All energy newsWhen it comes to switching, timing's crucial. The current status is ...



URGENT! Switch now!

If you're on a standard tariff, or anything other than a super-cheap online-billed deal - compare, ditch and switch ASAP.



All six of the big suppliers have now hiked prices (see the full company-by-company changes).



In the past, when the first hike was announced we've said 'don't switch', as you could just be leaving one provider only to move to another that raises its prices even higher.



Yet now we've a two tiered system, and most people are massively overpaying. Standard tariffs cost an average home £1,100 a year, while super cheap ‘online-billed’ tariffs are £900 for the same usage. So those on standard tariffs should move as fast as possible.



Latest movers & shakers

2010/11 rises and cuts by providerPrice changes vary not just by company, but by region, and there can be huge variances. The following are the most-recent average changes for each major supplier.

Do understand that when you use a comparison site, if prices are announced but not acted on, it'll be the 'post-price-rise / cut price', as comparison services incorporate the new prices at the moment they're announced, not the moment they happen.





Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE). 9.4% Gas rise (Dec '10)SSE's stated a gas-only price rise of 9.4% for 1 Dec '10 across all standard tariffs.



In the prior round of cuts SSE dual fuel rates fell by 4%, single gas by 7% and pre-payment rates by 9% on 29 March '10.

British Gas & Scottish Gas. 7% gas & Elec rise (Dec '10)British Gas hiked both gas and electricity prices by 7% on average from 10 Dec. 300,000 customers on BG's Essentials tariff won't see price rises until after winter.

In the prior round of prices cuts, starting in Feb '10, it cut gas prices by an average 7%, excluding its cheaper online tariffs though.

E.ON. 9% elec, 3% gas Hike (Jan '11)E.On announced a price rise of 9% on electricity and 3% on gas prices from 4 February.

Previously E.ON cut gas prices by 6% for all monthly direct debit customers on 31 March. As usual, this doesn't apply to its StayWarm tariff.

EDF Energy. Increasing prices on 2 March 2011 EDF Energy was the final big six provider to announce hikes - 6.5% on gas and 7.5% on electricity to kick in on 2 March - after initially pledging to hold standard prices until March, in order to retain competitive advantage in the short-term and attract switchers.

EDF Energy previously hiked 2.6% on standard electricity prices on 1 Oct 2010, with 1.2 million customers hit. But those in the London, South east and South west regions were unaffected.

Scottish Power. 2% gas, 8.9% elec rise (NOV '10) Scottish Power announced a price rise of 2% on gas and 8.9% on electricity effective from 25 Nov. The hike includes all tariffs, except its fixed/capped products and its over 60s social tariff, Fresh Start.



Scottish Power cut standard gas prices by 8%, effective 31 March. As with EDF, the cuts didn't apply to everybody. Only some households on its cheaper online deals got them.

Npower. 5% Gas & ElEC Rises (Jan '11) Npower hiked gas and electricity prices by an average 5.1% on 4 January 2011.

Those on its social tariff will be protected with a price fix until April '11.

Read MoreWhy it's urgent

Winter’s here. The actual changeover can take two months, meaning if you don’t do it ASAP, by the time winter’s high bills hit you’ll still be paying a huge rate.



Cheap tariffs are disappearing. In recent months, a lot of the very cheapest online-billed deals have been pulled, so leaving it longer could result in costs rising further.



You save even if rates rise. If you move to an online tariff, there's still a chance its price will be hiked. Yet they're so much cheaper than standard tariffs, you're still almost certain save compared to what you’d have paid otherwise (and if not, switch again).



Time To Switch Alerts Service:

Whenever we shift from 'time to switch' to 'don't switch' or vice versa, a warning is included in the free weekly MoneySavingExpert.com email





FAQ's Past Emails Privacy Policy Switch & get added cashback

The easiest way to find who's cheapest is to use a comparison site, where you tell it where you live and as much info as possible about your energy bills, and it tells you who's cheapest. If you don't have your bills handy for usage figures, it'll estimate.



Yet don't go direct. Instead, specifically click these special links to the comparison sites, and within 45-90 days you get paid cashback or freebies on top, provided they can switch you (see why they pay).



If you're confused about what type of tariff to pick, see the Q & As below. See the special guide if you're switching FROM a capped tariff.





Overall top comparison service. £15 cashback per switch



Our top pick, based on historical reliability, feedback and research, is Energyhelpline*, which pays £15 cashback (once) per switch whether separate gas and electricity or dual fuel.



Alternative top picks for freebies. £30 cash, £40 wine



For a dual fuel switch, which means getting gas & electricity from one provider, you can get bigger freebies (one per household). Yet don't assume dual fuel is always cheapest. Check whether getting separate gas and electricity can undercut it, as it often can.



£30 cashback: Moneysupermarket*

12 bottles of wine (worth c. £40): Uswitch*

£35 Amazon vouchers: SimplySwitch*



With more work, you may be able to increase the cashback. See the cashback info link below.





Don't worry too much about switching. Only customer service, billing and, most importantly, prices change. The pipes, circuits, wires, safety coverage and actual gas and electricity flowing through your home are all the same.



The new supplier performs the switch, and all you do is take a meter reading. Of course, there've been many switching 'horror stories' and sadly these still happen, but for most it's a smooth process.

Full cashback info

More Cashback info, top picks & possible cash boost. Click to read more

When is the cashback paid?

Cashback's usually paid 45 to 90 days after you sign up, but remember it's only paid when the comparison service actually administers the switch for you, otherwise it doesn't earn anything, so it can't cut you in (beware, as some of the below will ask you to fill in a claim form to get your voucher).



Things can and do sometimes go wrong, so don't count the cash as yours until it's in your pocket.



Detailed list of sites offering cashback.Our top picks in the article are assessed on a mix of feedback from MoneySavers, cashback (or wine), inclusivity of tariffs, company strength (as the cashback comes from the comparison site, so you're reliant on it) and functionality. Here's a more detailed explanation:

The overall MSE top picks

Over the years, Energyhelpline* has consistently received good feedback, has some of the most inclusive functionality and delivers quickly when we suggest improvements.



It pays cashback of £15 per switch, which means switch to dual fuel (gas and electricity together) and it's £15, or switch to a separate gas and electricity supplier and it's £30 (joint highest).

For dual fuel we also include Moneysupermarket* which offers £30 cashback or Uswitch*

which offers 12 bottles of wine (worth c. £40).

List based purely on freebie/cashback value



This is simply a list based on the promised cashback on offer, and excludes any company feedback or other criteria we use in our top picks.



Just an electricity switch: Moneysupermarket* pays £17.50 cash, or Energyhelpline* pays £15 cash, while SimplySwitch* pays £15 in Amazon vouchers (the vouchers will be sent out automatically within 90 days, one per household).

Switch to separate gas & electricity providers: You can get £34 via Energylinx* if you're switching to separate gas and electricity suppliers, or get £30 (£15 per fuel) via Energyhelpline* and UK Power*.



Or again SimplySwitch* gives £30 (£15 per fuel) in Amazon (the vouchers will be sent out automatically within 90 days, one per household).

Dual fuel: This means you get gas and electricity from the same supplier. Beatthatquote* pays £35 in cash, SimplySwitch* pays £35 in Amazon vouchers, Energylinx* pays £34 in cash or Moneysupermarket* pays £30 in cash and SwitchwithWitch* pays £20. Energyhelpline* only pays £15 in this scenario.

Get a voucher for 12 bottles of wine worth £40.

Rather than cash, Uswitch* gives a voucher for 12 bottles from Virgin Wines when you switch to a dual fuel tariff. You get six red and six white, with a max of one per household. And don't worry, you don't need to buy anything else from Virgin to redeem it.

Officially, the wine's worth over £50, yet roughly equivalent plonk can be had from supermarkets for about £40 (the MSE team's verdict on it was, some good, some yuck!)

Ensure you go via the above link to get the deal, because if you go directly to Uswitch, you'll only get a different voucher. This looks similar, but it's just £40 off, not actually free wine.

How much cashback is promised? Cashback Energy Service Switch to Separate Gas & Electricity Suppliers Switch to Dual Fuel

Energyhelpline* £30 £15

Uswitch* - 12 bottles of wine worth c.£40

UK Power* £30 £20

Energylinx* £34 £34

Moneysupermarket* £17.50 £30

SimplySwitch* (Amazon vouchers) £30 £35

Beatthatquote* £35 £35

TheEnergyShop* - £20

You may've noticed that there's no mention of the charity-donating comparison switch sites, such as Switchandgive, which pays £20 to charity for dual fuel switching.

That's because, if you switch via the sites above, get the cashback and donate it directly to charity, the tax advantages of you donating mean the charity gets more anyway (see the increase your charity giving article).

It may be possible to INCREASE the cashback ...

Occasionally, some energy companies pay even more if you switch directly via their websites or via cashback websites. Therefore, for the ultimate finesse, first use the comparison services to find the cheapest, then check the winner's website direct to see if it offers more cashback.

Also check if you can get more going via a cashback website both for the energy provider itself and, on rare occasions, for going to the comparison site - use the Cashback Sites Maximiser for this.



Read More

Important! Don't miss the best times to switch

Get MoneySavingExpert's free, spam-free weekly email full of guides & loopholes FAQS View Past Emails Privacy Policy The eight energy bill cutting rules

It's not just about doing a comparison. Who you use and how you pay can cut your bills substantially. Here are the key eight rules:





Don't assume dual fuel is always cheapest



Logically, dual fuel (gas and electricity from the same supplier) should be cheaper and it often is, yet not always.



During your comparison, also compare the cost of the cheapest dual fuel supplier with separate cheap gas and cheap electricity suppliers.



Do switch to monthly direct debit



Fixed monthly direct debit payments, where you pay a fixed estimate each month, save you 5-10%, as companies are sure you won't default and they earn interest on any overpayments. These should be refunded at the end of the year.



Do a meter reading every time



Every time you receive a bill, do a meter reading. Don't rely on your energy provider's estimate; these are often way out. If they're under-billing, you'll have a big whack to pay at the end of the year. If they're over-billing, then they've unfairly got your cash.



If your direct debit is way off kilter, call up and request it's changed. You have a range of rights to ensure it's correct. See the full Energy Direct Debits guide for template letters to help.



Do switch to your company's internet tariff



It will usually save you up to 10% over the standard tariff, and all it really means is you get your bills emailed.



Avoid pre-payment meters if you can



While a push from the government means things are getting better, those on pre-payment meters are still pretty hard done by, certainly compared to those who pay by direct debit. If possible you should try to switch to a billed meter. You may have to pay to get one, but the savings are usually worth it.



Yet often they won't let you, due to credit score or income difficulties. If that's the case, you're not automatically stuck. Energyhelpline* and Uswitch* allow you to compare prepayment tariffs - plus there's also Ebico which has historically been competitive on pre-payment, though its advantage is now diminishing as other suppliers cut costs.



Consider a financial hardship tariff



If you're in financial trouble some companies offer special cheaper tariffs, which help. However you can't assume these will be the cheapest. As you're online (or you wouldn't be reading this), it's possible the cheapest web tariff will beat many hardship deals.



Grab £1,000s of grants



There's a vast range of grants available for improving home heating and insulation, just go to the Energy Saving Trust's Energy grant search. For more grants available for all types of home improvement, see the full Grant Grabbing guide.



Use less energy



It's not just who you pay, but how much you use. Cutting energy is a mix of big and little things.



Turn down the thermostat and wear jumpers, turn lights off when you leave a room, use energy saving lightbulbs, defrost the fridge and check it's not on too high, don't leave electrical goods on standby.



For more info, read the Energy Saving Hunt and see the Energy Saving Trust website.

check are website below


www.d-bc-repair-computer-solutions.co.uk