Electricity

EDF Energy has launched a new tariff tapping into the anger about the high level of standing charges set by regulator Ofgem under its Price Cap. The new EDF Ensure* tracker tariff is effectively a discounted version of the Price Cap that will be £50 cheaper over the year – and it does this by lowering standing charges, not unit rates.

If you get your electricity from Electric Ireland, you'll have to switch in the future, as the provider will stop supplying all 53,000 of its household customers in Northern Ireland over time – though there's no change for now. Here's what you need to know.

Rules that prevent energy firms from offering cheaper deals to new customers could be scrapped by October, paving the way for you to cut your bills by switching supplier. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis said the move is a much-needed fix for the broken energy market, though while "better late than never", he cautioned that the change is still too far off.

E.on Next has opened its 'Pledge' variable tariff to new, as well as existing, direct debit customers. It promises a 3% discount (about £50 a year on typical use) on the Price Cap for a year. We've full info below. 

In a major survey of 3,000 people, MoneySavingExpert.com today reveals which firms paid customers the most to cut their energy use during peak times last winter, and how people did it. Crucially, despite most saying they earned less than £20 in total for their efforts – only 21% earned more than £20 with top payer Octopus – the majority WOULD sign up again. 

Brand new app-only supplier Fuse Energy – the first new supplier to enter the market since the start of the energy crisis – has launched an electricity-only tariff that undercuts the Price Cap. Crucially, the Fuse deal has lower standing charges, making it especially attractive for lower users – but there are some potential drawbacks to consider before you switch.

E.on Next has become the first big-name energy supplier to launch a fixed tariff costing less than the Price Cap that's available to both new and existing customers. It's currently the cheapest 'open market' deal, costing 2% less than the current Energy Price Cap, though the tariff will cost more than the Cap once it falls from Sunday 1 October. We've full info on whether it's worth considering below.

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has been questioned by MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis about his lack of action to bring down standing charges and why he's yet to introduce an energy social tariff. On ITV's Good Morning Britain (on 19 July), Martin also grilled the minister on whether more support would be offered to vulnerable people this coming winter.

If you pay for energy by topping up and you're on a traditional (non-smart) meter, you have just days left to redeem your six Government energy support vouchers worth £66 or £67 each before they expire on Friday 30 June. Here's what you can do if you haven't got your vouchers, you're having problems redeeming them or they've expired.

The Royal British Legion, the UK's largest charity dedicated to supporting the armed forces community, has launched a grant scheme for veterans and their families who are struggling to pay their energy bills. The initiative will provide non-repayable emergency grants of up to £1,200 (£200 a month for up to six months), and is available across the UK.