Insulate your utility bills against another expensive winter

Thursday 10th November 2011

With another freezing winter fast approaching and energy prices soaring so high that the Government has been forced to intervene, MoneySave Solutions, the online portal to financial services specifically for those in financial difficulty or with a poor credit history, is urging families to start looking now for the best deals and tariffs available. Many energy companies offer a financial hardship tariff, while savings can also be made through government grants and free insulation, depending on eligibility.

MoneySave Energy is a simple comparison search tool that covers the whole of the UK’s energy market allowing users to find the tariff which best suits their budget.

Matt McKenning, Operations Director of MoneySave says: “Inflation recently hit 5.2 per cent, largely caused by the rise in energy prices. The fact is, non-one is escaping the impact of increased day to day living costs and energy bills can cause a huge strain on finances. But what consumers need to bear in mind is that utility providers have no way of knowing which customers might be eligible for discounts, so families on benefits need to take the initiative and alert their provider to their circumstances to ensure they get the best deal. While the big six providers have all put up their prices, it’s really worth shopping around using comparison sites to check how much money you could save.”

Although the Government has just announced that eight million consumers will soon receive a letter confirming they are eligible for £100 off their energy bills this year, the future for energy pricing is bleak for families are already dealing with stretched finances with predictions of a 25 per cent increase in utility bills by 2015* and plans for green energy targets.

Matt McKenning continues, “Just in August and September, gas and electricity bills rose on average by 13 per cent and 7.5 per cent** respectively. If you’re struggling to pay your bills, or think you might be eligible for a grant to help with insulation or a new and more efficient boiler, visit the Energy Saving Trust website and complete the questionnaire on Grants and Discounts. Whether or not you qualify for Government help, you should use a comparison site such as MoneySave to check you are on the best tariff for your needs, to ensure you’re not throwing away money every time you turn on the central heating.”

* Deutsch Bank, October 2011

** Office of National Statistics, October 2011