Energy

The Business Secretary is to investigate an allegation that the 'big six' energy suppliers are making more money out of loyal customers than they're admitting to. But regardless of the outcome of the inquiry, switching your supplier is the best way to bag big savings on your energy bills.

Scottish Power is to cut its gas prices by 5.4% from 15 March, making it the third big six energy firm to announce a drop this year. But even after the cuts its standard tariff will cost £100s more than the market's cheapest, so check now to see if you can switch and save.

Over a million prepaid energy users have yet to claim a £12 rebate they're due, new figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) reveal. If you're one of them, you've only got until 28 February to do so – here's how.

SSE has become the second big six energy firm to reveal price cuts this year, but it's only dropping gas prices by 5.3%, and only from 29 March. Even after that small decrease, the company's standard tariff will cost on average almost £300/yr more than the cheapest.

Customer complaints about energy firms increased by a quarter last year, according to the Energy Ombudsman. But whether you've had cause to complain about your provider or not, you can save £100s by switching now.

E.on has announced it is to cut gas prices by 5.1%, making it the first of the big six providers to drop prices this year. But even after that, its standard tariff will cost on average over £250/yr more than the cheapest.

Save £1,000+ in a day, with a checklist to overhaul your money

Wholesale energy costs are at their lowest for five years, and energy firms are under increasing pressure to slash bills. But don't wait for what's likely to be a trivial price cut – many can save £300/year by switching to a cheaper tariff now.

Most resolutions hardly outlast Christmas turkey leftovers, but I've designed these so if you do 'em now, the impact's felt all year

For the last couple of years there's been a trick to get British Gas at far cheaper prices. That's because Sainsbury's Energy is a 'white label' of British Gas – in other words the same company but using a different brand – and for someone with typical usage it has been over £200 cheaper. Yet that trick won't work anymore as Sainsbury's Energy's changed its tariffs.