http://www.unravelit.com Unravelit News - latest market news affecting your household bills Copyright (c) 2006 Unravelit.com. All Rights Reserved http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Don%27t_fall_for_this_energy_trap_when_moving_home_&guid=1a8fccdfdbee3ab2b9a6924ba0765653 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Don%27t_fall_for_this_energy_trap_when_moving_home_&guid=1a8fccdfdbee3ab2b9a6924ba0765653 Moving home is a stressful affair. On a par with divorce as one of life's most traumatic events, many of its anxieties come from dealing with people and situations over which we have little or no control. Whether you're renting or buying; the treadmill of viewings, estate agents, packing and unpacking, "interested" buyers and waiting for an offer or waiting to see if your offer has been accepted can really take a toll.Often overlooked in the turmoil of a home move are the services that we require in our new home. Top of the list is the home energy supply. When an energy supplier receives notice that a resident is moving out, they change the account to a "deemed rate", and there it stays until the new resident changes it.Sometimes referred to as "emergency tariffs", deemed rates are amongst the most expensive tariffs in the marketplace and customers usually end up on deemed rates when they move into a new home. It happens when the previous resident contacts their supplier with meter readings and closes their account. This leaves a limbo period where the supplier doesn't know who's responsible for the energy supply and they don?t have any billing information. Generally they are very slow to actually shut off the supply, so instead they send a "Dear New Resident" letter requesting billing information to the address and set the account to their deemed rate.Until the new resident contacts the supplier and provides billing information or changes the tariff and supplier altogether, their electricity and gas will cost them way above the odds. In fact, even a dual fuel deemed rate can be 25% more expensive than direct debit internet deals, and if the gas and electricity supply is from two different companies, the combination of two deemed rates can make the cost of home energy even higher.Most new residents are unaware that they are paying so much for their gas and electricity and because the supply doesn't get shut off, they are slow to contact the energy company. Even when they do respond to the requests from their supplier, very few people think to change the tariff to a more competitive rate - leaving them on the deemed rate indefinitely."There is so much to do when moving that many people forget to transfer accounts and services to their new home." says Eileen Rutschmann of movers help service iammoving.com. "We find that one of the most commonly overlooked services is the energy supply. Because the lights stay on in the new home, people often leave it far longer than they should to contact their new supplier or get onto a better deal. And during that time suppliers are charging away at their most expensive rates. It's important to contact suppliers and check for a better deal as soon as possible because it can take a couple of months for the changes to take place."Home movers can switch tariffs and suppliers shortly after they have taken over residence. The existing supplier will write asking for account and billing information and once the existing supplier is identified a switch can be done using an online comparison service or by going direct to the energy suppliers. It is worth using a comprehensive comparison service because they generally show the entire market and new deals frequently become available.A common stumbling block for home movers who want to switch is trying to figure out how much gas and electricity they will use in a new home; especially if it's bigger or more energy efficient than their old home. Because of this most comparison services and energy suppliers are able to estimate usage based on the size of the house and the number of people living there. When a usage pattern is established, the direct debits can then be adjusted if they are set too high or too low."Many consumers are expecting energy prices to come down now" says Florian Ritzmann of comparison site Unravelit.com, "but when was the last time your car insurance came down when you didn't shop around? In August suppliers introduced a range of new internet based tariffs that are much cheaper than the rates they replaced but they are only available if you sign up to them. People need to be prepared to spend a few minutes comparing and be prepared to switch - this is doubly true for home movers on deemed rates."Simon Moynihan is the Customer Support manager for Xelector. Xelector provides the gas and electricity comparison service for MSN.This article also appeared on MSN and can be seen here Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:41:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=What%27s_so_great_about_paper_bills%3F__Top_ten_reasons_to_manage_your_gas_and_electricity_account_online&guid=881256b87f11d2ace55cbdaccc7f1836 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=What%27s_so_great_about_paper_bills%3F__Top_ten_reasons_to_manage_your_gas_and_electricity_account_online&guid=881256b87f11d2ace55cbdaccc7f1836 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 DiscountsSuppliers 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 greenerOnline 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 AccessNo 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 estimatesWith 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 youNo 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. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:47:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Stay_cool_for_less_this_summer&guid=f80c712f407f86aa621d2c5b96f5890f http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Stay_cool_for_less_this_summer&guid=f80c712f407f86aa621d2c5b96f5890f Recent soaring temperatures suggest this summer could be another scorcher. Temperatures for 2009 are expected to be above the 1971-2000 average and the Met Office currently believes we are "odds on for a barbecue summer".Here is some advice to help you stay cool without spending too much money or using an excessive amount of electricity, followed by tips to help you buy the right air conditioner.Money for coolingOur best tip to make the best of the summer ahead: now is a great time to compare prices and switch energy supplier.Because of long days and warm weather, your energy consumption is now at its lowest point in the year, so chances are that monthly direct debit payers are in credit with their suppliers, by as much as £300.By switching supplier, your current provider would have to refund you this credit. Adding the savings from switching, which are typically 15% of your energy bills, and you can make a very tidy sum and finally afford that air conditioner.Minimise sources of heatStandard or halogen light bulbs, big LCD or Plasma TV sets, refrigerators, washers, dryers, personal computers, ovens, hot water pipes and boilers are significant sources of heat and will exacerbate the effect of a heat wave.Make sure you turn off what you don't use, use insulation where you can and invest in more efficient lighting for your home. Visit the Energy Savings Trust for help and information on making your home more energy efficient.Double glazingDouble-glazed windows are great at keeping the heat in, but they also keep it out. Open your windows at night to circulate cooler night air and keep them shut during the day when the outside air is hotter. Install window locks if you are worried about security at night.Open windows on the breezy and preferably shady bottom side of the house and open windows on the other side of the house at the top to create a cooling cross-current of air through your home.ShadesIf you've got a sunny side to your house, keep the curtains or blinds on that side closed during the day. Blocking direct sunlight from coming through the windows is the easiest way to keep your home cool.FansFans don't use much energy and when air is circulating it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.Cooler gardeningWindbreaking hedges can divert the force and direction of the wind in the winter, while a shady tree by the west or east of your home can cut the air conditioning cost of your home in the summer.Solar reflective films on your windows and conservatoryNew heat reflecting films applied to your windows ensure that your windows reflect the outside heat, yet let the light in, so you get the best of both worlds without paying the earth.Flat topsIf you've got a flat roof, paint it with a specially formulated reflective paint or just paint it white. The reflective effect will help to keep the rooms under the flat roof much cooler.And remember - when the weather gets hot, stay out of the sun during the most intense periods, drink lots of water and avoid excessive physical labour if possible.Air conditionersWhen you have young children, are looking after the elderly or even if it's just too hot to cope, an air conditioner is a powerful weapon to beat the heat.The first rule of buying an air conditioning unit is to not wait until it gets hot. You need to give yourself time to shop around because you don't want to get stuck with an overpriced and inadequate air conditioner from your local hardware store simply because everything else was sold out on the hottest day of the year.The second rule is that even a good air conditioner will use quite a bit of electricity, so make sure you buy an efficient unit by checking it energy efficiency rating.Here are some simple pointers to getting value for money:TypeMobile air conditioners come in two types: "integrated" and "split" units.Integrated units work by housing the compressor unit (the bit that pumps the heat out of the air) inside the main control unit. This makes the unit more compact and easier to move from room to room. On the downside, integrated units can be irritatingly noisy and tend to have less power, but they do cost less, with a decent unit priced around the £300 mark.Split air conditioners house the noisy bits in an external box, which you will have to find space for outside your window (they usually fit in the window box and come with fittings). The outside unit is attached to the inside control unit by a thin pipe.This has the advantage of keeping the noise down. However, if you want to move your air conditioner from room to room, you need to consider that half of it sits outside. Split mobile units are also a bit more expensive, typically starting at £400.SizeBuy an air conditioner with a cooling capacity that matches your property. Measure the room you wish to cool and make sure that it corresponds with the stated capacity of the unit.An underpowered unit will have to run constantly without providing enough cooling, while an overly powerful machine will not remove enough moisture from the air and make the room feel clammy.NoiseAir conditioners can be noisy. If you cannot demo a unit, ask for its noise performance in decibels: this is particularly important if you are buying an integrated unit. Good performance is considered to be between 36 and 40 decibels. Noise is an important consideration if you wish to place the device in a bedroom.MaintenanceAll filters, air intakes, grilles and radiators need to be kept unblocked and clean at all times to maintain peak performance. Check that your unit allows easy access to all maintainable parts.UsageMost new units have a timer facility. Before you leave your home, set the timer to start the machine 30 minutes before your return.This way, you'll enter into a nicely cooled home without wasting energy by letting the device run in your absence. Set the temperature to around 24 celsius for a comfortable environment.Use a fanCirculate the cold air with an extra standard fan to ensure efficient temperature distribution.Make sure that you buy the most efficient unitIn the longer term an inefficient cheaper unit could cost you more than the slightly more expensive air conditioner that uses less energy or makes less noise.And don't forgetYou can help pay for an air conditioner by switching energy supplier and getting some money back if you have been overpaying. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:38:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=UK_budget_-_no_relief_for_energy_consumers_expected&guid=3c2c23b99c550e8c5e75c74ec7cf9f33 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=UK_budget_-_no_relief_for_energy_consumers_expected&guid=3c2c23b99c550e8c5e75c74ec7cf9f33 Take these 3 steps to reduce your electricity bill by 40% instead-The government's 2009 fiscal budget is unlikely to contain help for UK energy consumers. Whatever money may have been available to directly support consumers was spent on bailing out banks, and implementing a cut on VAT, which excluded energy.-Energy consumers will not be bailed out by the government, even though the cost of gas and electricity now exceeds of most households disposable income. Consumers are only now paying now for their winter usage of the past month, and sky-high energy rates mean that many households will certainly be struggling to pay for gas and electricity.-We encourage you to follow these 3 tried-and-tested easy steps to take control of your own energy budget and cut your payments by up to 40% within weeks.-Step 1: Get the right information.-Do you really know how much energy you use in your home, at what times, and do you know which appliances do most damage to your bill?-Staying in control of your costs is now surprisingly easy, thanks to cheap and innovative new technology. Simply invest in a wireless electricity usage monitor (about GB40 in any decent electronics store ie Argos or Maplin) and you'll be in for a guaranteed surprise!-To test this for ourselves, we were kindly provided a device by energy supplier E.ON, which we tested in our own homes for a number of weeks. The results are astonishing. We now know that lighting makes up nearly 40% of our energy bill, far more than we expected, and that leaving the coffee machine in standby cost about GB10 a month. Each towel rail, on the other hand also cost GB10 per month to keep running.-There were positive surprises, too - for example, computers and flat screen television screens did not consume as much energy as we had expected them to.-Needless to say, we will now be replacing our 50 Watt halogen lighting with lower wattage bulbs. The coffee machine no longer idles away unused and the towel rails are on a timer. Hardly a sacrifice, and our monthly bill has come down by approximately 10%.-The monitor we used was installed in a matter of minutes, by clipping a sensor around the electric wire that connects the meter to the fuse box. The separate display device, which can be placed anywhere in the house, then instantly reads out the usage in real-time.-If you switch to E.ON's Energy Saver v8 tariff with this service, you can even get one of these devices for free with the welcome pack.-Result: Knowing how you use electricity will enable you to make easy changes, and help you save at least 10% on your bill.-Step 2: Make sure you don't overpay-Consumers who pay by Direct Debit should contact their supplier now and ask to review their monthly payments. Take down a meter reading, get the phone number from your last bill and ask your supplier to adjust your direct debit amounts for the summer months ahead, when you will be using less energy. If you have already run up a credit of GB150 or more, ask for your money back this is your right as a consumer.-Result: Adjusting your Direct Debit at this time of the year can save 10% on your Direct Debit.-Step 3: Switch.-Suppliers have in recent weeks launched attractive new rates, lifting the average savings from switching to about 20% - that's even if you switched last year. Even better, some of the most attractive rates are online-only deals (all available through this service) and suppliers now offer energy monitoring software through their websites, as part of the package. British Gas and E.ON have the best online energy efficiency services that we have seen.-Result: Switching energy supplier currently saves 20%-So, in summary, the message from the budget will be that we're on our own when it comes to containing the high cost of energy. Suppliers, on the other hand, will only offer you the best deal if you check the best available offers, if you stay on your current rate, you may well be losing out. And our experience with the usage monitor suggests that there are easy ways to help you reduce consumption.-Florian Ritzmann is Product Director at online comparison service Xelector.com, and has been working with energy suppliers for 10 years. Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:10:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=The_cheapest_deal_is_a_fixed_price_deal%21&guid=bdc96744c2e6ed1ed8a8a1cc5fb4fb4d http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=The_cheapest_deal_is_a_fixed_price_deal%21&guid=bdc96744c2e6ed1ed8a8a1cc5fb4fb4d E.ON releases a great new offer for cash-strapped gas and electricity customers On April 1st, the price drops announced by the leading energy suppliers became effective. Yet these new prices won't do much to help beleaguered consumers. As the table at the bottom of this article shows, energy remains very expensive. Furthermore, now that it is warmer and we need less energy anyway, the effect of the price cuts are not going to be as helpful as they would have been during the bitter cold period of months past. But on the positive side, there now is a wealth of new discount tariffs to choose from. The one offer that stands out at this point is E.ON's just-released, Fix Online  tariff. As the name suggests, the product is a fixed price product, which guarantees the cost of your energy until 1st of June 2010, and it is available online only, through this service. Since its launch just a few days ago, the offer has already been taken up by thousands of customers because unlike most other Fixed or Capped price tariffs this one is actually really cheap. Here are the details: prices are guaranteed to stay put until June 1st 2010. Customers must agree to service their account on the E.ON website, and in keeping with E.ON's common tradition the tariff also comes with Tesco Clubcard Points (1 Point for every £2 spent on energy). To see how this tariff works out for your circumstances, please use our comparison service which compares the entire market. It is important that you compare prices first, your savings vary depending on where you live, how much energy you use and who you are using now for gas and electricity. Please also note that E.ON will charge a £30 penalty (£10 for electricity-only customers) if you don't stay with E.ON for the duration of the guarantee period. Don't delay or you might be disappointed. Customers have already used our comparison service to switch to this tariff in strong numbers, so this tariff might not be around for long. Energy tariffs are sold on a first-come-first-serve basis, so once E.ON has met its target, the tariff will be withdrawn. Table 1 Major price change announcements by leading supplier Supplier Quarter 1 2008 Quarter 3 2008 This year British Gas Elec: +15% Gas: +15% Elec: +9% Gas: +35% Elec: no cut Gas: -10% E.ON Elec: +9% Gas: +15% Elec: +16% Gas: +26% Elec: -9% Gas: no cut EDF Elec: +7.9% Gas: +12.9% Elec: +17% Gas: +22% Elec: -8.8% Gas: no cut npower Elec: +13% Gas: +17% Elec: +14% Gas: +26% Elec: not announced Gas: not announced Scottish and Southern Energy Elec: +14.2% Gas: +15.8% Elec: +19.2% Gas: +29.2% Elec: -9% Gas: -5% ScottishPower Elec: +14% Gas: +15% Elec: +9.4% Gas: +34.4% Elec: not announced Gas: not announced Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:45:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=How_gas_and_electricity_comparison_sites_work&guid=ceea1d18d567bdf297e40ba805e0b433 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=How_gas_and_electricity_comparison_sites_work&guid=ceea1d18d567bdf297e40ba805e0b433 This article also appeared on AOL and can be seen hereIf you've ever wondered how energy switching sites work and if you're really getting the best deal by using them, then Simon Moynihan has some answers.The home energy marketThe home energy market can be bewildering. There are over 11,000 energy tariffs and dozens of energy suppliers out there. How you pay, whether you get your statements in the post or over the internet and of course how much you use all determine the size of your energy bills.If you pay by direct debit you pay less. If you have a prepayment meter you pay more. If you take your gas and electricity from the same company you get a discount. Some suppliers pay discounts annually, some pay quarterly. Some are green and some are brown, and some are just expensive.Big differences in costEven if you pay by direct debit and take gas and electricity from the same big name supplier you can fork out way more than you need to. Changing your supplier will not get you better electricity, or warmer gas. But it may be cheaper. Much cheaper. And that's where the comparison sites come in. Simplifying one of the most complicated markets in the UK is a growing business. The idea is to list all available tariffs and rates according to price so you the consumer can easily choose the cheapest.How they work How they work is simple enough. You tell a comparison service who your suppliers are, how much gas and electricity you use, where you live and how you pay your bill. The comparison service then runs this information against all currently available tariffs in your region and gives you a table of results based on price. You'll be told how much you could save in a year, what the annual cost will be for your gas and electricity and if you want to switch, you can usually do so right there and then. Energy comparison sites are essentially brokers. They earn commissions from suppliers for referring new customers. These commissions in turn make it possible for the sites to keep providing up-to-date information on all deals available.Why energy companies use comparison sitesEnergy companies know that most of their new customers come from comparison services and they play into it. If a big supplier is on a drive for new customers, it will launch a new tariff with new rates and target the top of the comparison charts. If they are number one, they will get the largest share of new customers. When they have as many as they want, they will "withdraw" the tariff and "launch" another one.This kind of launching and re-launching of tariffs can be seen in their names. You can now sign up to E.ON Energy Online Extra Saver 12 or npower Sign Online 14. You may have already signed up to Click Energy 6 from British Gas. The suppliers skilfully nudge one another off the top spot in a game of one-upmanship that is determined by wholesale prices, market forces and of course the desire for new customers.This is good news for consumers and the key is to take advantage of suppliers' cheapest offerings. Right now for an average customer living in London, the difference between npower's standard rate and their cheapest tariff is nearly £150. And if you're an npower customer, you can switch your npower tariff to their cheapest rate using a comparison service. This is because npower knows that if you're on a switching site, you're looking for a better deal. And they'll give you one to keep you as a customer, so shopping around is essential.Special dealsA common misconception is that suppliers offer special rates to particular comparison sites. They don't. The deal you see on one is the same deal on another. You can test this by entering the same information on different services and you should come out with the same results. One thing is true though. Some suppliers don't have relationships with certain comparison services. Some of the best known comparison services are unable to switch customers to some of the best deals. If the best deal is listed on the comparison service you're using and you're unable to switch because it's unavailable, use another service where you can switch to that supplier!Can you trust comparison sites to be accurate and impartial? The energy regulator Ofgem recommends the use of comparison services to find the best deals and watchdog Consumer Focus manages the code that regulates most comparison sites. The code has very strict rules on how results are listed and comparison services are audited regularly. Although comparison sites want you to switch because they'll earn a commission, they still want you to get the best deal in an open and clear way. If you use them once and save? money, the hope is that you'll trust them and use them again. It's in nobodys interest to provide misleading results.Who can save money?According to Ofgem, half of UK households have never switched. These households will usually save the most. But because deals are always changing and prices fluctuate, there are always new deals coming on the market. Checking your tariff every six months to a year is a good way to stay ahead of the game and make sure you're on the best deal.Is one comparison service better than another?All comparison sites would like to think so! But the truth is that most of them list savings and prices in an accurate and easy to understand way. In addition to regulation, they test each others? sites regularly and if any discrepancies are found, they are reported to the watchdog. As a consumer you need choice and ease of use. It is true that some comparison services are able to switch you to more suppliers than others. This is what makes a better comparison service. Accurate, impartial results and easy switching to the biggest choice of suppliers and the best deals.Simon Moynihan is the Consumer Insight Manager for Xelector Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:54:00 +0000 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Say_goodbye_to_estimated_bills_with_a_new_smart_meter_offering&guid=96d5ff5aefb1c90c4e20188e3f1c7ee0 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Say_goodbye_to_estimated_bills_with_a_new_smart_meter_offering&guid=96d5ff5aefb1c90c4e20188e3f1c7ee0 first:utility, a company which has provided telephone services in the UK for many years, has recently expanded into the gas and electricity market with an innovative solution to an age-old problem - estimated, inaccurate billing.It is not widely known, but your energy supplier is not required to come by more than once every two years to read your gas or electricity meters. So unless you are a diligent customer and regularly provide your own meter readings, you probably know firsthand how badly wrong a supplier can get it when setting direct debit amounts or generating statements.But enough of that - first:utility have bravely thrown their hat in the ring, and are promising customers frustrated with the slow pace of change in the energy industry, a new 'smart' energy meter, free of charge. This new meter works by communicating directly with first:utility using GSM (mobile phone) technology. Your energy usage is periodically fed back to first:utility, allowing the company to always use real usage data when generating bills and setting direct debits. Even better, first:utility will let customer analyse their energy usage online, or by using a handheld remote device that comes with the meter. Experts believe that knowing their energy usage profile can help users take easy steps to reduce consumption by up to 10%.So what's the catch? You do need to stay with first:utilita for 2 years, or else there is a GBP100 exit penalty, but given that the meter installation is currently free that's fair enough. After that you can switch and we have been told that no matter where you take your energy supply, the new meter will still work, albeit without the smart function. first:utility are based in Leamington Spa, and their offer is available throughout England, Scotland and Wales through this service. Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:46:00 +0000 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Take_your_seat_at_the_energy_poker_table&guid=6193fedf57ef847075df1cc12fe26dbd http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Take_your_seat_at_the_energy_poker_table&guid=6193fedf57ef847075df1cc12fe26dbd Last Thursday, British Gas announced a 10% reduction in the price of gas for most of its customers. Any price cut is good news, but what was left out of British Gas' announcement is also of significance. Firstly, Britain's largest supplier did not announce any reduction in the price of electricity - which British Gas supplies to about 6 million households. Secondly, the company did not publish the new rates with the announcement.British Gas' announcement should be seen as the first move in a poker game that is likely to last another four weeks, when British Gas' announcement becomes effective. Here is what you must know to benefit.10% - is that it?Probably yes. British Gas is the biggest gas supplier in the UK, so if it lowers its price by 10%, other suppliers won't feel pressure to move prices by more. Things may be different with electricity, where British Gas may well have taken the decision to wait for another supplier to cut first. In other words, a small cut on electricity (probably less than 10% across the board), is still on the cards in the coming weeks.So when should I look for the best deal?Because energy consumption varies by season, our tip is to check for the best rate when it is cold. We do not recommend waiting for a particular moment, as is sometimes recommended by other experts.Anytime in the next four weeks will be a good time, but know this: energy suppliers tend to offer very attractive discount rates to sign up new customers.These tariffs tend to be "versioned". This means that any particular version of a tariff is available for a few months only, before being replaced by the next version. Because energy prices have fallen since the summer, the next version of the same tariff is likely to be cheaper than the previous. By visiting a price comparison calculator every six months, you will be able to see if the deal that you signed up for is still the best.What should I look out for?The notes above should give you an idea of the main differences between the leading suppliers. There is more information on our website (and many more tariffs to choose from), so ensure that you read up on everything before signing up for a supplier switch.Should I sign up for a guaranteed capped deal?Capped prices (where unit rates are either fixed, or guaranteed not to rise for a set period of time) are important if you need to make sure that your energy budget remains stable. As a rule of thumb, a capped deal is recommended if it was within 10% of the cheapest uncapped offer, and if the capped period was for two years or more. If no such offer can be found, it is better to go for the cheapest uncapped deal.I signed up for a capped price offer last year - what should I do?This depends on when you signed up, as capped prices are all versioned. For example, if you signed up 12 months ago, when the market was awash in cheap long-term pricefix deals, then we strongly recommend that you stay where you are. Your rates would have been set way before the explosion in energy prices that drove the increases of last summer.However, if you signed up after August 2008, then the picture is more varied, as you are likely to be on rates that could be significantly above current market prices. In either case, think carefully before abandoning your current capped rate.Compare suppliers to determine the price difference between your current capped rate and the best offer, but also check with your supplier whether you'd be liable to pay a penalty if you leave your current capped offer before the end of the price guarantee period. Only consider switching if there is a saving to be had after paying such a penalty.Should I go direct to the supplier?We do not recommend this. Comparing and switching through our comparison service means that on those rare occasions where things go wrong and your supply is not taken over within the standard four weeks, you can fall back on us to help you out.There have also been cases where customers ended up signing up to the wrong tariff, after contacting the supplier directly. Finally, you won't get it even cheaper by going direct. You cannot negotiate rates directly with an energy supplier to get an extra discount for your home.We hope that with this information you'll be able to make the best decision for you and your family in the coming days and weeks. Don't forget to check out our comparison service, which can offer a lot more still. Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:18:00 +0000 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Getting_the_best_deal_on_flat_screen_TVs&guid=254c2d6d781bcfdbcdc866ae92131675 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Getting_the_best_deal_on_flat_screen_TVs&guid=254c2d6d781bcfdbcdc866ae92131675 Prices for flat-screen TVs are falling fast and with the January sales in full swing, it's a great time to find a bargain. On the high street this month, a quality 42" plasma TV can cost as little as £500 and an LCD of the same size will set you back only £600.Almost all new TVs sold in the UK now are flat-screen, and when buying a new TV most consumers upgrade not just in style and technology, but also in size. The Energy Savings Trust says that the average flat-panel is now 50% larger than the TV it replaces.Although prices on new TVs have never been lower, the running costs are much higher than their old-school predecessors. Most consumers aren't aware of the extra energy expense when shopping for a new TV but upgrading to flat-panel could cost you more than three times more to run than your old TV.How much more energy does a new TV actually use?A conventional 28" TV uses about 100 watts of electricity. A new 42" LCD TV will use about twice that, but it's the plasma TV that's the real energy-hog. An efficient 42" plasma TV will use about 300 watts and if the display is set to high and bright, it will use much more - up to 500 watts - making it the SUV of TVs.Most TVs are on for about five hours a day and with a standard old TV, that would account for about 3% of annual household energy usage. A plasma will increase its share of your household electricity bill to about 10%. But it's not just new TVs that are adding to our energy bills. Xboxes, Playstations and set-top-boxes will add to that again. In fact, an Xbox 360 uses almost as much electricity when played as a plasma TV. When put together, your new TV and games console could add £100 a year to you electricity bill.Legislation in the USAcross the pond in California, the extra energy used by flat-screens is causing such a worry to legislators that they are planning to pass laws banning retailers from selling all but the most efficient models. The new laws set to come into effect in 2011 are part of a larger plan to ease pressure on California's ageing grid. With an ageing grid here as well, it can only be a matter of time before MPs start looking at our TVs too.To reduce the effect you new TV has on your pocket, look at the energy ratings before buying. Plasma TVs use much more energy, but they are becoming more efficient. And if you don't need a monster TV, go for an LCD.Of course, you can compensate for the added usage of your new TV by cutting consumption elsewhere in your home such as shutting off standby gadgets, using efficient lighting and adding power-saver plugs. But if you've already taken these steps, the easiest way to offset the inevitable increase in cost is to switch energy suppliers to the cheapest deal. If you haven't switched for a while, you could save 15% so even with your new TV; you'll still come out ahead.This article also appeared on MSN Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:42:00 +0000 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Energy_prices_will_stay_high&guid=11dbc2d30d181cbf15409326e8a3668d http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Energy_prices_will_stay_high&guid=11dbc2d30d181cbf15409326e8a3668d Wholesale prices for energy have eased away from the extreme highs of 2008, raising expectations of price cuts on gas and electricity in the UK. Consumer groups and the government alike have begun calling for a reduction in domestic gas and electricity prices, creating a widely-held belief that such cuts are imminent.Yet while the hopes of such cuts remain alive, dark clouds have begun to gather which might result in the delay, reduction, or cancellation of any planned price cuts.What has happened?The Russian prime minister recently said that "despite the current problems in finances, the era of cheap energy resources, of cheap gas, is of course coming to an end."Oil prices up on Russia's announcementIn other words, the most powerful man in Russia is determined to keep high the price of his country's energy resources. This determination is already being played out: using the pretext of a billing dispute with Ukraine, Russia last week cut off gas supplies to Ukraine. The unresolved dispute is significant, as Ukraine hosts a major gas pipeline that connect Russia's gas fields with the west.Quite predictably, the dispute has already resulted in major supply disruptions amongst many European countries, prompting a leading German supplier to state that its gas supplies via Ukraine had been "massively reduced", going so far as to predict that deliveries would completely stop in the next few days.Gas markets are reacting nervously, wholesale prices are climbingShould the cold weather of recent days continue for much longer, or the Ukrainian - Russian dispute prove as difficult to resolve as a similar conflict in 2006, British suppliers will hesitate to cut the price of energy by a significant amount, leaving most consumers to struggle though the cold of winter on sky-high rates.But even beyond the current winter term, there are other powerful challenges which will translate into permanently high prices for gas and electricity.A new gas OPEC to dictate pricesThe price of gas has historically followed the price of oil, not least because many oil fields also produce natural gas as a by-product. The world's leading gas producers (Russia, Iran and Qatar account for 60% of world natural gas production) have over the last two years set up a new OPEC-style gas cartel. This new organisation will give its members the power to decouple the price of natural gas from oil.The creation of a gas OPEC illustrates how energy-exporting countries have tightened their control over pricing in recent years, thus making a return to cheap energy highly unlikely. And because the UK uses natural gas to produce 40% of its electricity, prices there will continue to rise too.The cost of the UK's energy policyThe UK government needs to secure the long-term supply of energy to the UK, without sacrificing the environment. Renewable energy and nuclear power therefore loom large in the government's energy policies. Creating clean new energy generation capacity is necessary, now that the UK's own North Sea resources are declining. the extremely high cost of diversifying the UK's electricity generation capacity will be paid for by the UK energy consumer through rising bills for decades to come.Suppliers have never reduced prices in the pastAfter record price increases in 2006, energy suppliers in early 2007 trumpeted price cuts between 10-15% on the back of falling wholesale energy prices. But with 2007 wholesale prices off of their 2006 peak by as much as 65%, it is safe to say that suppliers made token (and short-term) price cuts only. The balance of the benefits found its way into the pockets of the suppliers, who all announced blockbuster profits in 2007.The simple lesson is that there will be no letup to rising energy prices for the coming years if not decades:- Those countries who give us our energy have gained control over the price at which they sell it.- To reduce our dependence on energy imports and to generate clean electricity will cost astronomical amounts of money.- Energy suppliers are businesses, not friends.Switch and reduceSuppliers do compete for your business and constantly introduce cheap tariffs to attract new customers. Savings are attractive - you can currently shave 20% (that's nearly £200) off the average bill just by switching to the best deal. Once you have switched you need to stay on your toes, as your supplier will not reward loyalty.Suppliers will always offer the best deal to new customers, not their existing ones, so take action to ensure that you remain on the best deal - keep track of your consumption and visit comparison services on a regular basis.Use less energyVisit the Energy Savings Trust for a one-stop shop to help take control of your energy consumption. Learn where and how most of your energy is consumed at home, and then take steps to cut back. The site even offers a very helpful calculator to find home energy efficiency improvement grants.So switch now and use less energy before the worst of the winter bills arrive on your doorstep.This article also appeared on MSN Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:14:00 +0000 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Why_energy_will_never_be_cheap_again&guid=925f73847fdd733c874a142b90b25b7f http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Why_energy_will_never_be_cheap_again&guid=925f73847fdd733c874a142b90b25b7f Why energy will never be cheap againBy Florian RitzmannWholesale prices for energy have taken a tumble recently and, with the UK economy in full retreat, expectations for price cuts on gas and electricity have risen. Suppliers have pushed through 40% increases in 2008 by blaming sky-high oil prices - so now that the price of oil has halved, the price you pay for your gas and electricity should follow, right?Wrong.There are three powerful reasons why you will keep paying more for your gas and electricity through 2009 and beyond.A new gas Opec to dictate pricesThe price of gas has historically followed the price of oil, not least because many oil fields also produce natural gas as a byproduct. The world's leading gas producers (Russia, Iran and Qatar account for 60% of world natural gas production) have set up a new Opec-style gas cartel over the past two years. This new organisation, whose charter will be finalised in Moscow this month, will give its members the power to decouple the price of natural gas from that of oil.The creation of a gas Opec illustrates how energy-exporting countries have tightened their control over pricing in recent years, thus making a return to cheap energy highly unlikely. And because the UK uses natural gas to produce 40% of its electricity, prices there will continue to rise too.The cost of the UK's energy policyThe UK government needs to secure the long-term supply of energy to Britain but without sacrificing the environment. Renewable energy and nuclear power therefore loom large in the government's energy policies. Creating clean new energy generation capacity is necessary now that the UK's own North Sea resources are declining. However, the extremely high cost of diversifying the UK's electricity generation capacity will be paid for by the UK energy consumer through rising bills for decades to come.Suppliers have never reduced prices in the pastAfter record price increases in 2006, energy suppliers in early 2007 trumpeted price cuts of between 10-15% on the back of falling wholesale energy prices. But with 2007 wholesale prices down from their 2006 peak by as much as 65%, it is safe to say suppliers made token (and short-term) price cuts only. The balance of the benefits found its way into the pockets of the suppliers, who all announced blockbuster profits in 2007.The simple lesson is that there will be no letup to rising energy prices for the coming years if not decades:- Those countries who give us our energy have gained control over the price at which they sell it.- To reduce our dependence on energy exports and to generate clean electricity will cost an astronomical amount.- Energy suppliers are businesses, not friends.Short and simple advice to UK consumersSwitch energy supplier using independent price comparison services. Suppliers do compete for your business and constantly introduce new cheap tariffs to attract new customers. Savings are attractive - you can currently shave 20% (that's nearly £200) off the average bill just by switching to the best deal.Once you have switched you need to stay on your toes, as your supplier will not reward your loyalty. Suppliers will always offer the best deal to new customers, not their existing ones.Use less energyVisit the excellent Energy Savings Trust for a one-stop shop to help take control of your energy consumption. Learn where and how most of your energy is consumed at home, and then take steps to cut back. The site even offers a very helpful calculator to help you.So switch now and use less energy before the worst of the winter bills arrive on your doorstep.This article appeared on MSN Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:24:00 +0000 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Looming_credit_card_fees_likely_to_face_resistance&guid=ae490a1db64c62cec79be30650996234 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Looming_credit_card_fees_likely_to_face_resistance&guid=ae490a1db64c62cec79be30650996234 As bad debt soars, UK credit card issuers are facing higher costs and lower revenues.  To fight the ever-falling bottom line, credit card issuers are looking to increase the frequency and level of credit card annual fees; a decision that could be met with resistance from UK consumers.Currently, roughly less than 10% of UK cardholders are paying an annual fee.  However, some card issuer, sometime in the near future will implement annual fees across all of its products.  When that happens, we should expect a domino-effect where the remainder of the card issuers will follow suit.  By 2012 we could see high annual fees for pretty much all of the credit card products in the market.  Implementing an annual fee on most credit cards in the market may cost some more than they think.  If you hold more than one card, you would then face paying annual fees on each of your cards.  If you hold many cards but don't use them all the time, the annual fee movement would be a costly time.A recent survey from Auriemma Consulting Group reveals that most UK cardholders place a much higher value on cards without annual fees than those with a robust rewards program.  This is a sure sign that Brits are pinching every penny and then some.  Annual fees are primarily used by credit cards issuers to help finance rewards programs.  Cards that offer more enticing rewards programs are usually accompanied by annual fees.  For instance, the BMI Plus AMEX credit card offers its users a generous Destination Miles scheme. Every pound spent on the card will earn the user 2 destination miles.   These miles can be redeemed for travel, hotels etc...  This card also carries a high Annual Percentage Rate as well as an annual fee of £60.00.  Currently, one of the lowest interest cards is the Capital One Fixed Rate card (8.5% APR).  This card offers no rewards or cashback facility; but is considered a more attractive card in the current market.  So there is a straight forward tradeoff between annual fees and extra value (if that?s what you are looking for). Raising current and imposing new annual fees will no doubt be a tough sell to an already disheartened credit card country.  Credit card issuers know this.  They will be faced with the onerous task of increasing and adding fees and keeping customers.  To offset the looming annual fee mandate, credit card issuers will no doubt come up with ways to sweeten the rewards programs to offset the annual fees. Or simply by adding rewards programs to cards that currently don't offer any.Keep an eye on your current card(s):Watch out for any increase in fees (however small);Keep a look out for better credit card deals; Only choose a card with a rewards program is it offers something that is important to you; Keep an eye on your other credit card fees - fees for cash advances and using the card abroad could also go up in the near future. Hot Cards:Right now, there are cards that still offer a great interest rate without charging annual fees for rewards.  If you are looking for a straight up low interest credit cards without the bells and whistles, you may want to look at:Capital One Bank: Fixed Rate Cards - No annual fee and an APR or 8.5% fixed for 44 months;American Express: Gold Credit Card - No annual fee and an APR of 12.9%; andThe Egg Money Credit Card - No annual fee and a 12.9% APRTo learn more on these cards and what they can do for you or if you have to transfer your balance to a cheaper card, visit our service. Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:05:00 +0000 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=What_to_do_if_your_money_is_trapped_in_a_collapsed_bank&guid=36cb5789965de28220ceac703b4ffd19 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=What_to_do_if_your_money_is_trapped_in_a_collapsed_bank&guid=36cb5789965de28220ceac703b4ffd19 What to do if your money is trapped in a collapsed bankYou might have been saving for a holiday or wedding, to pay your mortgage or credit card bills, to fund your retirement or to buy a home - but if you're one of the hundreds of thousands of people who find their money frozen as a result of recent bank collapses, you may be wondering what to do until you get your hands on it again.  The Financial Services Compensation Scheme expects to start repayments to savers with IceSave in mid-November but people with money trapped in some offshore bank accounts or saved via bonds and other financial products may have to wait much longer, if they are repaid at all.  You need a plan - so here's some help to get you started.Talk to anyone you oweWhether it's a few hundred pounds left to pay to the holiday company or thousands to the taxman, don't even think about skipping payments.If you ignore your problems, you'll probably incur late payment fees or penalties and your credit report - the history of your credit accounts, such as credit cards, loans and mortgages - will record that you've missed repayments. Lenders check your credit report when you apply to them and they'll see that you've been unreliable in the past, which could make it harder for you to get the deals you need in the future.  You can see your Experian credit report for free - it contains a useful list of lenders you owe, so you don't forget anyone.Then go online and take a screenshot of your frozen account details, or contact your broker or any middleman you dealt with and ask for a statement. You'll need it to prove that you really do have the money when you explain your situation and renegotiate payments.Expect some sympathy...If you owe money on a bank loan or credit card, your lender should be sympathetic and willing to find ways around it - possibly by freezing interest or allowing reduced repayments until your money is returned. "We are committed to dealing sensitively with people who find themselves in straitened circumstances," says Jemma Smith of APACS, the UK's payment association. "If you were caught out by a collapsed bank, I would expect lenders to be sympathetic. However, any requests for fresh lines of credit would have to be approached on a case-by-case basis."Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are also likely to be helpful if you had earmarked money to pay a tax bill. "HMRC can and does help customers facing temporary difficulties by allowing them additional time to pay," advises a spokesman. "We do this on a case-by-case basis and will respond sympathetically to customers who are affected by events beyond their control." ...but you won't win them allUnfortunately, you may not get to enjoy that winter sun you'd been relying on to cheer you up. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) suggests you talk to your holiday company immediately if you realise that you may not be able to pay in full. "Each firm has its own booking conditions and they may be able to offer a certain amount of leeway," says a spokesman. "But bear in mind that if you simply can't afford it, you should cancel the holiday sooner rather than later as cancellation fees rise the longer you leave them unpaid." There's no point in digging out your travel insurance policy, either. According to the Association of British Insurers, you would only be covered for financial hardship as a result of redundancy - not the unexpected collapse of a bank. Don't bank on propertyIf you are scheduled to exchange or complete on a new home and now can't get at your money, you have to hope that the vendor is sympathetic. Talking is also the way ahead if you'd saved money to pay off your mortgage - the Council of Mortgage Lenders says it does not have any policies in place that would cover this type of circumstance and that "decisions of this nature would be a matter for individual lenders".That could mean rescheduling the end of the mortgage or taking an interest-free payment holiday. In both cases, you're likely to have to pay more in the long term but won't get into short-term trouble or damage your credit status.Tidy up your financesDon't forget to stop any direct debits or regular transfers into your frozen account - then look at ways you can cut back temporarily. Your credit report is a good starting point, as it presents a snapshot of what you've borrowed, so you can see if there are any debts you can roll up into a single, cheaper loan, close down accounts you don't use and check for any errors that might put lenders off extending the amount you owe while you wait for your cash.  Try using price comparison websites to find the best deals.Be aware that taking out new credit - or extending the repayment period in order to cut the amount you repay every month - will mean that you pay more over time and take longer to clear what you owe. Do your sums before committing to a new deal and only sign on the dotted line if you're sure it's the best way ahead.Don't despairEven if you're worried that you can't survive until your money comes through - or fear that you may lose some of it - there's help out there. If you need support, you can turn to a counselling service offering free financial advice. Try Citizens Advice at www.citizensadvice.org.uk, the Consumer Credit Counselling Service at www.cccs.co.uk or National Debtline at www.nationaldebtline.co.uk.Keep working at your financesKeep in touch with your lenders, update them on your situation and try to stay within your budget until your savings are available again. Regular checks on your credit report will help you to see how well you are coping and allow you to monitor changes that could affect your credit status. You can check your Experian credit report as often as you like during a free trial of CreditExpert, the UK's leading online credit monitoring and identity fraud protection service. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:03:00 +0000 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=How_to_make_sure_you%27re_on_the_best_energy_deal_this_winter&guid=1cbdb63c3016c312c3841062bb22164e http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=How_to_make_sure_you%27re_on_the_best_energy_deal_this_winter&guid=1cbdb63c3016c312c3841062bb22164e Simon MoynihanAs we move into October, home energy bills are arriving and UK households are seeing in bold print the effect of the summer's staggering price increases. It's estimated that bills this winter will be 40% higher than they were last year and experts believe that without government intervention, prices will increase again in the New Year.These shock price increases have led many people to take action, and gas and electricity comparison services have seen a surge in the number of people checking for better deals - more people switched suppliers in August than any other month this year.Energy comparison services are a great way to find the best deal on home energy, but the results are only as good as the information you provide. If you want to make sure you sign up to the best deal, you must know how much gas and electricity you use. Unlike our European neighbours, this information is not on our bills, but can be obtained with one short call to your supplier. Knowing how much you use is important because the suppliers compete in different niches of the market. Some are cheaper for high users, some are cheaper for average users and there are an array of tariffs catering for everything from electricity only users, customers with Economy 7 night storage heaters and prepay customers to name a few. Before contacting your supplier, check your meters and write down the readings. Call your energy company, give them the readings and ask how much gas and electricity you have used in the previous 12 months. You will be given your usage in kilowatt hours (kW/h). If you have an Economy 7 meter, make sure they tell you how much electricity was used at the night rate. The average home in the UK uses 3300 kW/h of electricity and 20,500 kW/h of gas per year.When you know your annual consumption, use an Energywatch accredited comparison service like the ours to check for the best supplier. You'll be able to see how much your current supplier will charge in the coming year and how much all other suppliers will charge for the same amount of gas and electricity.Running a comparison based on your annual spend or your monthly direct debits can provide you with a good idea of the best supplier but recent price changes and inaccuracies with direct debit can sometimes skew the results. So make that phone call. It will save you money, and if you want to try and reduce your usage in the coming year, it's the best information you can have. Best of all, if you switch, you should be able to get your direct debit just right, so it'll only need adjusting if prices change.When you look at switching, do be aware of tariffs that may change in price soon. After the recent price hikes, two of the major suppliers kept their internet tariffs unchanged, scooped up customers looking to switch to a cheaper provider and then increased prices before many of them even went on supply. A number of quality price comparison sites, including ours, have now introduced price change alerts on their results pages to help warn customers of imminent rate hikes like these.It is also worth being aware of energy company reps and promotions. At this time of year, the big suppliers know that people are thinking of switching before the colder winter weather takes hold, so they up their efforts to get new customers by phoning your home, calling door-to-door and running big promotions.Be careful! If you are being pitched to switch, the company representatives may be right that their company is cheaper than yours, but they are not showing you the whole picture. There will almost certainly be a better deal available elsewhere because door-steppers and cold-callers only sell standard high-price deals. And worse, they can rarely if ever put you on their own company's best deal. Using an accredited energy comparison service to see the whole market will get you the best results.For the 50% of us that have never switched, now should be the time. Prices have skyrocketed of course, but average user paying by cheque is handing over almost £20 per month more than he needs to. Gas and electricity are undifferentiated products, electricity from one company won't run your appliances any better than electricity from another, so why pay more than you need for it? To get the best deal:Read your metersCall your supplier and provide the readingsAsk how much gas and electricity you've used in the previous 12 monthsCompare all deals using an accredited energy comparison serviceWatch out for tariffs that may change in price soonFind to the cheapest deal or the one that suits your needs bestRemember that paying by direct debit and managing your account online is usually cheapestSwitch!Energy companies respond to market forces and rarely reward loyalty. They usually only offer the best deals to new customers. So play them at their own game, find the best deal and be a new customer. It could save you a bundle. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:04:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Are_you_wondering_whether_the_tariff_you_want_may_be_going_up_in_price%3F&guid=7c7a34064ae8d09d7dbdb5098f489169 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Are_you_wondering_whether_the_tariff_you_want_may_be_going_up_in_price%3F&guid=7c7a34064ae8d09d7dbdb5098f489169 Have you every wondered whether the savings shown on some comparison services are too good to be true?To help consumers switch with confidence, this service now warns about tariffs that may be due a price increase - another unique feature you won't find anywhere else.Tariffs that are considered to be due a price increase are labeled with a big exclamation mark and explanatory content. Tariffs that have recently been adjusted are shown with a green GO sign. The Price Increase warnings are not based on advance information of price changes by the energy suppliers, but represent this service's longstanding experience in gaging the direction of the energy market. Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:55:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Energy_fuel_measures_-_the_government%27s_missed_opportunity&guid=e8ebd9b67c4b3e00ebba37491f1a9617 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Energy_fuel_measures_-_the_government%27s_missed_opportunity&guid=e8ebd9b67c4b3e00ebba37491f1a9617 The government today announced a package of measures to help the country cope with soaring fuel bills. These measures include:A partial reversal of previously announced cuts for the government's warm front scheme, which provides support to households on pension credit with the installation of central heatingDoubling of winter fuel payments to pensioners. Help for disabled and families with children under five - but only if the coming winter is severeFree or half price insulation offers for all families and a price freeze for the remainder of this year for the poorest familiesThe measures have already been criticised as being overly focused on inducing long-term reductions in energy consumption, while providing little help for average families struggling to pay their bills this coming winter.The current vagueness around the implementation of the longer term measures does not help. For example, it is unclear how the insulation offers will be marketed by the energy suppliers, and what the take-up will be. The value of offering a price freeze for the poorest for the rest of the year (a period of a little over 3 months!) is also in doubt. The consensus is that suppliers had no intention of raising prices this year anyway, but that they will probably put through further increases in the New Year.The measures also don't seem to include any new energy tariff initiatives that might help incentivise UK energy consumers to reduce their consumption, for example by introducing attractive fixed rate one year packages with usage limits.We are also sorely missing any new initiatives to make bills more useful to the consumer, or example by forcing suppliers to clearly show the last 12 months of usage on every statement, within the context of the national average. Most importantly, we are missing any special help for customers who use Prepayment meters - the most expensive way to purchase gas and electricity - and which are present in about 10% of UK households. We were hoping that suppliers would be forced to offer their customers a free meter replacement, so that those willing and able to pay quarterly or by monthly Direct Debit, could benefit from cheaper prices, but this was not part of the package that was announced.So unfortunately, the government's efforts are not going to help you this winter with the 25-35% extra that you will have to pay for your gas and electricity. This is the sad fact.For the average family. the only way to save money on the energy bills is to somehow use less energy in the future and to switch to a cheaper tariff deal from another supplier, this can easily save up to 20%, so we do recommend that consumers take this step first. Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:11:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Eat_or_Heat%3F__What_to_do_if_you_cannot_pay_your_energy_bills&guid=f8eb02bb3541ef805e43735fccd5204b http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Eat_or_Heat%3F__What_to_do_if_you_cannot_pay_your_energy_bills&guid=f8eb02bb3541ef805e43735fccd5204b Together with the terrible weather, shock increases on the price of gas and electricity have been distasteful features of this summer. And while we may yet enjoy a sunny autumn season, there is unfortunately no end in sight to spiralling energy prices, as energy providers are already setting their sights on further hikes of about 20% by early next year.So if you have just come home from your summer holiday, here is the dismal picture of what you can look forward to: Supplier Date announced Gas Increase % Electricity Increase % British Gas 30th July 35 9 E.ON Energy 21st August 26 16 EDF Energy 25th July 22 17 Npower 28th August 26 14 Scottish and Southern Energy 21st August 29.2 19.2 ScottishPower 28th August 34 9 Average 28 14 From now on, UK consumers will have no option but to pay attention to their energy bills, or else these increases - when taking into account the rising cost of living overall will end up causing real hardship. So here is what to do if Eat or Heat, could be a question for you this winter.Get a capped rate or the cheapest discount alternativeYou may be thinking that you have missed out on signing up to the cheapest fixed price energy deal, these are limited availability tariffs that come with a guarantee against price increases.The good news is that some suppliers have now re-entered the ring by offering between 1 to 3 years fixed Price tariffs, which are available from our comparison serviceIf you cannot find a capped rate that works within your budget, switch to the cheapest deal overall using our service, there are savings available of up to £300 on an annualised basis, but be prepared to switch again in 4-6 month's time when you are notified of a price increase. So be an aware consumer and keep your eyes peeled for deals, that means know where your bills are and have them ready so you can act when that price increase announcement comes throughContact your supplier.If you are already struggling with your bills or are in arrears at this time of year (when consumption is low), then that is a sign of trouble ahead for the winter. Contact your supplier and discuss your options, here are the hard and fast rules about being in debt to your supplierIf you are in debt as a result of inaccurate billing, then the repayment of that debt should take as long as it took to run up the debt. For example, if you have not been billed correctly for a number of years, then your repayments should take just as long.Several Trust Funds exist to help people in serious difficulties, your supplier will know about these and will be able to tell you about your eligibility. Ask your supplier for an entitlement check, to find out what help is available.If you believe you are at risk, and someone in your household is of pensionable age, disabled or chronically sick, ask your supplier to add you to the Priority Services Register, which can be useful if you find yourself in debt later (if you are on that list, the supplier should offer you additional assistance).Dealing with DisconnectionSuppliers can disconnect a home if no agreement is reached about debt settlements. The exceptions are:Elderly or chronically sick customer may not be disconnected during the winter months (October to March)If a debt is with a previous supplier, not the current supplierIf a debt is not related to your gas and electricity consumption (for example if a customer defaults on the repayments of a boiler bought from the supplier)When a customer is officially declared bankruptThere is no disconnection exception for families with small children.In the event of disconnection, suppliers will provide instructions on how to get a household reconnected. Here are the things to note:Reconnection charges usually apply, and reconnection is usually made only after a debt settlement has been reached.The supplier may suggest to install a pre-payment meter at the property in order to reconnect and while this may be tempting, customers should know that getting your energy via prepayment meters costs about 20% more, which will not help in reducing energy billsReconnection can take a week or more, as an engineer will have to come to the property, so customers are advised to keep engaging their suppliers to avoid disconnection in the first placeYou may be able to get a Crisis Loan from the Department of Work and Pension if you cannot afford the reconnection fee. Click here for more information http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/sb16/crisis.asp. This is an interest free loan from the Government. You will have to prove that you genuinely cannot afford to pay the reconnection fee, so this really is an option of last resort only.Reducing your consumptionPaying more for each unit of gas and electricity is unavoidable given the recent price increases, but by using less energy, it is still possible to take the edge of price increases. The key is to act now, and take the necessary steps before the onset of colder weather. We recommend that you trawl through www.energysavingstrust.org.uk for ideas and also to check whether you may be eligible for a free home insulation improvement grant.To keep in touch about future free energy benefits, you can sign up to the energywatch newsletter service. To register with energwatch click here http://www.energywatch.org.uk/help_and_advice/free_services/index.aspMost important in dealing with the issue of energy debt is not to ignore it. Your supplier must offer you options if you are in trouble, and just by contacting them to talk about the problem you will be buying yourself valuable time. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:54:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Come_out_as_a_winner_in_the_energy_wars&guid=fa324b453482b9152e5c07f9eec5f0c9 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Come_out_as_a_winner_in_the_energy_wars&guid=fa324b453482b9152e5c07f9eec5f0c9 Looking back, 30th of July 2008 might well be marked as a watershed date for Britain's energy consumers. On that date, British Gas announced an unprecedented increase on the price of gas - an astounding 35% - marking the single biggest increase ever announced by any of the big six suppliers in the UK.Because most consumers already pay about 60% of their household energy bills on gas, British Gas decision to raise electricity prices by only 9% at the same time will do nothing to undo the damage that has been done.The energy markets are still struggling with the aftermath of this shock. Four of the Big 6 energy suppliers (E.ON, npower, ScottishPower, and the Scottish and Southern Group), which together supply about 70% of the UK's households, are furiously working their calculators, deciding by how much to up their own standard rate prices.So while this is going on, what should energy consumers do to protect themselves?First of all get angry. Suppliers are not about to reward you for loyalty. If you have not recently switched tariff or supplier, you will gain nothing by doing nothing.Come early November, the effect of these recent price increases will be felt. And the effect will be massive if you have been paying £70 a month on your gas direct debit the average of what we see go through our service then your new annual gas bill will suddenly be £1,130. You need to ask yourself: can I really afford that?Secondly start looking. You may be thinking that you have missed out on signing up to the cheapest fixed price energy deal, these are limited availability tariffs that come with a guarantee against price increases.The good news is that ScottishPower has now re-entered the ring by offering an attractive one year price fix tariff which is available from our service (if you are currently supplier by ScottishPower you will need to contact them directly).So now is a good time to look again. The ScottishPower offer does generally compare favourably against the current British Gas 2011 offer and the EDF Fixed Price 2009 offers (both available from the suppliers directly, but shown on our service for comparison purposes).Thirdly switch tactically. If you cannot find a capped rate that works within your budget, switch to the cheapest deal overall using our service, there are savings available of up to £300 on an annualised basis, but be prepared to switch again in 4-6 month's time when you are notified of a price increase. So be an aware consumer and keep your eyes peeled for deals, that means know where your bills are and have them ready so you can act when that price increase announcement comes through.Finally use less energy. When energy prices increase by 35% in one hit and there is no end in sight to future price increases, something has to give. Just visit the Energy Savings Trust website (www.est.org.uk) and follow their excellent advice,  the Energy Savings Trust really does offer the UK's one-stop shop for energy savings advice.And be a little sceptical about some of the advice that is being given at the moment. We have noted with great concern that the self-appointed UK consumer champion Martin Lewis (also known as the Money Savings Expert) has recently told people not to switch energy supplier.This advice has left us scratching our head the last time Mr Lewis told the country not to switch early in 2008, suppliers like npower and ScottishPower were offering generous 3 year capped rates that are now long withdrawn. Customers who followed Mr Lewis advice then totally lost out on those offers! With ScottishPower now offering a good capped rate it does not make sense to wait. Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:06:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Unique_new_green_rating_service_launched&guid=e425f0b2545d189cc8ad54515fc6c563 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=Unique_new_green_rating_service_launched&guid=e425f0b2545d189cc8ad54515fc6c563 We are proud to have launched the first green rating service, helping consumers navigate the maze of green tariff offers with confidence. Instead of listing green tariffs by price or in alphabetical terms as other comparison services would do, we have developed our own unique rating that takes into consideration all the key factors that make some tariffs greener than others. We believe that consumers who choose a green offer will want the tariff with the biggest environmental benefit. Hence we include the following when rating green tariffs: ADDITIONALITY: By law, suppliers must cover a minimum percentage of the electricity they sell from renewable sources. The minimum renewable content for the 2008-09 period is 9.1%. Suppliers who exceed the legal minimum score more highly, because their tariffs provide additional electricity from renewable sources. Suppliers who provide green electricity only score highest. RENEWABLE CONTENT: Tariffs whose renewable content is 100% score higher than those tariffs where the electricity you consume is not 100% covered by renewable energy sources. For example, if you use 3,000 kiloWatt hours of electricity per year, and your supplier pledges to feed 3,000 kiloWatt hours from renewable sources into the national grid to offset that amount, then that tariff scores higher than a tariff where only a portion of your electricity usage is covered by renewable sources. PRICE: All things being equal we apply a price ranking to determine the best option for you. If two tariffs are equally 'green', then the cheaper tariff will be listed first. You can then click on the tariff name for information about individual or additional benefits. Please note that these green benefits apply to electricity only. There are no currently no gas tariffs with distinct renewable green benefits in the market. To see who is greenest, just run a search for a new energy deal, then click the big GREEN button. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:44:00 +0100 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=How_to_find_energy_tariffs_with_price_guarantees&guid=becf08e5744f008fc01e2be53d1a76d4 http://www.unravelit.com/news-details.html?story=How_to_find_energy_tariffs_with_price_guarantees&guid=becf08e5744f008fc01e2be53d1a76d4 Worried about the impending price increases for gas and electricity - you are right to! With widespread expectations of 40% + increases by 2009, now really is the time to look for a tariff with a price guarantee. Simply run a search, then click on the big PriceFreeze button to review all those tariffs that offer a price guarantee on the unit rates. But you must hurry - Price Guarantee tariffs are getting rarer as the energy suppliers are gearing up for the first of multiple price increases in the coming months. Our rule of thumb is that if you can find yourself a capped rate that costs up to 15% more than your current supply, it is a good deal - grab it while it lasts. A handy tip: Most tariffs with a price guarantee are Dual Fuel and Monthly Direct Debit only - so make that you are running the right search. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:33:00 +0100