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The big six energy companies could face a full-scale investigation into whether they are preventing competition in the market and making excess profits, reglator Ofgem has announced.

Energy minnow First Utility has undercut its rivals by launching the market's cheapest tariff – but is it worth switching to?

If you've signed up to a fixed price energy tariff in the past few years, your bill could be about to soar as 15 deals are ending soon. But you can beat the hikes – if you act now.

If you've switched energy provider in the last six years, you could be owed a slice of £200 million after energy regulator Ofgem found the big six suppliers guilty of failing to return money to millions of former customers.

The big six energy suppliers will be fined if they fail to meet new rules aimed at helping smaller firms break into the market, the energy regulator says.

Millions of energy customers who pay by direct debit will now get automatic refunds from their supplier, regardless of how much their account is in credit by.

First Utility has cut its fees for customers who pay for their gas and electricity by cash or cheque. But everybody who can should switch to paying by direct debit for their energy, to avoid up to £90 a year in extra charges.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey wants the energy regulator to look into the profits the big six energy companies make on gas bills.

E.on is to hike energy prices by an average of 3.7% from 18 January, becoming the last of the big six power suppliers to announce an increase in its charges.

Households are to be spared the full force of recent bill hikes after power firms pledged to pass on savings from a Government shake-up of energy levies.