Are you one of the THOUSANDS of households facing a £414 energy bill rise at the end of the month?
Hundreds of thousands of customers are expected to see their bills rise by up to 54 per cent a year - unless they act now
HOUSEHOLDS could see their energy bills soar by £414 a year when their fixed tariffs come to an end this month.
Hundreds of thousands of customers are expected to see their bills rise by up to 54 per cent a year - unless they act now.
There are 16 popular fixed deals from seven suppliers - including npower and ScottishPower - set to expire on April 30, after which customers will be rolled onto expensive standard variable tariffs.
These are typically the most expensive tariffs offered by a supplier.
If customers fail to act when their fixed deals come to an end they face huge price hikes, says uSwitch.com, the price comparison and switching service.
The customers facing the biggest hikes are those with npower (£414), First Utility (£397) and ScottishPower (£373).
The price hike is a double whammy for households, as all of the Big Six energy suppliers have announced bill increases this year.
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The most recent provider to do this is EDF Energy, which announced its second price rise of 2017, adding a further £78 to its standard variable tariff from June.
According to rules set out by the energy regular Ofgem, customers are allowed to switch suppliers without paying exit fees from 42 days before their plan end date, so consumers are free to shop around without penalty.
Claire Osborne, uSwitch.com energy expert, said: “With many popular fixed deals ending this month it’s more important than ever to avoid being rolled onto sky-high tariffs.
"Not only do some consumers face a hefty price hike after their fixed deal ends, but they could also be stung by recent price rises to standard variable plans if they take no action.
“Customers on these deals can switch now without incurring any exit fees, avoid expensive standard tariffs and safeguard against further price hikes.”
HOW TO CUT YOUR ENERGY BILL NOW
MILLIONS of households across the UK have never switched and are stuck on the most expensive tariffs.
If in doubt, call your provider and ask them to move you to their cheapest tariff.
Better still, use a comparison website like MoneySuperMarket.com or Energyhelpline.com to find the very best deal for you.
The cheapest tariffs are usually found online and are fixed deals – meaning you guarantee how much you’ll pay for a set amount of time, usually 12 months.
Switching to a cheaper supplier could cut your bill by up to £300 a year.
The amount you pay varies depending on where you live and how much energy you use.
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