If you're reading this article, you're on the internet. Chances are you've already checked your bank balance this week, and you've probably paid a bill or two this month, but did you ever thing the day would come when you could see how much electricity is being used in your house right now from anywhere in the world?

Internet gas and electricity tariffs have come a long way. When British Gas first introduced their Click Energy internet tariff, they still sent paper bills to their customers just in case. Now customers can enter meter readings online (no more estimated bills), chart their consumption over months and years, and with the introduction of Smart Meters, actually watch the amount of electricity and gas being used online and in real time.

We think that with so much going for internet tariffs, the love affair with the estimated paper bill must surely be over - so we asked around and put together this unscientific top ten list of reasons why we think online gas and electricity accounts are worth the switch.

10. Benefits, Rewards and Discounts
Suppliers offer an array of discounts and rewards for customers that opt for online tariffs. There are annual rebates, price guarantees and loyalty schemes. Even if you stay with your existing supplier and change to online billing, you should pay less and may get a hefty discount.

9. Go dual and save even more
In addition to the savings you get by managing your account online, there are usually further discounts if you take both your gas and electricity from the same supplier.

8. Makes those green tariffs even greener
Online green energy tariff. What could be greener than that?

7. No more inserts
Ok, so maybe your energy company will send this stuff to you by email instead, but isn't it so much easier filter or delete an email?

6. Anytime Access
No more waiting on hold for information about your account. You can log in from anywhere and check your account any time when you manage online.

5. The top 5 cheapest tariffs are internet tariffs
If you've any doubt that you can save money by managing online, just run a comparison using an impartial service. If you're an average dual fuel user, you should see that the top five cheapest rates are all internet tariffs.*

4. Put an end to costly estimates
With an online gas and electricity account, you can submit your own meter readings any time. Yes, your supplier will still read your meters from time to time, but submitting your own meter readings means that you'll always be up to date on your usage and ensure you're not paying for more than you use.

3. Let your supplier do your filing for you
No more shoeboxes full of unopened statements and drawers filled with old bills. In fact, you won't even get them anymore. They'll all be neatly arranged online for you to view any time you want.

2. No more worrying that you've left the iron on when you're in Spain for two weeks!  Real-time online monitoring and usage information.
Ok, so only First Utility offers this feature right now, but it's such a great, up to date feature that we had to give it the number 2 spot. They also reckon that you'll save an additional 10% on your gas and electricity usage and bills just by knowing how much power your appliances actually use.

1. Money money money!
We'd all love to have more money and if you give up that paper statement it could put well over £100 in your pocket every year because most suppliers offer much cheaper rates to customers that manage their accounts online.

If you have yet to make the change to online statements, you can check all available internet tariffs on our Gas & Electricity Comparison Service. You could even save a couple of hundred pounds a year.

Simon Moynihan is a manager and some time writer at online comparison service Unravelit.com.

*Based on average user living in the London area with annual consumption of 3300 kwh per annum electricity usage and 20,500 kwh per annum gas usage.

This article also appeared on MSN.co.uk and can be seen here.