Energy price rises and cuts in full

Following npower's price cut, here's how the Big Six energy companies' prices will now be changing this year.

Npower is the last of the Big Six energy companies to announce a price reduction for its customers.

This follows the Government’s announcement last month that it was reducing the cost of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), and offering a rebate, that it is funding for two years, plus a one-off reduction on electricity bills.

However, npower and Scottish Power are not passing on their reductions to all their customers, with customers on fixed tariffs only receiving the £12 rebate.

EDF and E.On, who are not reducing bills, argue that they prepared for this change by announcing considerably lower tariff increases last year – 3.9% and 3.7% respectively, compared to an average of 9% from the other four.

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Rises and falls

Here are last year’s price rises and the subsequent price reductions in full. All figures are based on an average dual fuel customer's bills.

Companies have also pledged to hold prices for as long as possible this year, barring any major increases in the wholesale prices of energy.

Switch and save money on your energy bills

It’s impossible to totally avoid rising costs when it comes to energy bills, but you may be able to save some money by switching providers. If you’ve not done it in a while you could save an average of £300 per year.

Right now the cheapest fixed tariff comes from First Utility at £1,037 per year, which is £286 cheaper than the average dual fuel bill.

*Saving calculated against an average bill of £1,323 Source: Energyhelpline, 07/01/13

See if you can switch your energy supplier and save money

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