The average energy bill has fallen in real terms over the last year for gas and electricity users, new data from the Department for Energy and Climate Change indicates.
Data from the Department for Energy and Climate Change stated that, between the first quarter of 2009 and the same period this year, there was a nine per cent drop in the average household energy bill.
Gas and 'leccy down, oil up
This included a fall of 11 per cent for electricity and 9.6 per cent for gas; although in contrast to this, the price of oil used for heating was up by 23.1 per cent. Those using coal and smokeless fuels saw costs dip by 3.1 per cent.
The average standard gas bill rose £147 over the same time to £717. Such a fluctuating situation has created good opportunities for consumers to switch supplier and find a better deal.
Consumers smarten up
One of the findings of the data indicates that there has been widespread switching, with over half of people no longer with the same home supplier by March 2010.
This included 56 per ce nt of domestic electricity customers and 57 per cent of domestic gas customers.
While energy bills fell in the year to the end of the first quarter of 2010, the same has not been true in more recent months.
In May this year, the Office for National Statistics noted that fuel and electricity were an upward contributor to consumer prices index inflation pressures, due not to a rise in prices over the previous year, but because prices were falling a year ago.
Fixed-rate tariffs set to rise
For many, the energy price situation may not seem entirely clear, although this week saw experts state that prices are likely to rise after a series of fixed-rate tariffs offered by major UK suppliers expire in the next few days.
So those in the minority that are still with their old energy supplier may wish to consider joining the rest and finding a better deal.
