Utilities

The regulator Ofgem is urgently contacting a number of major energy suppliers about their exit fee policies, after a MoneySavingExpert.com investigation revealed many customers with fixes ending have been wrongly told they'll have to pay to switch.

Prepay supplier Utilita is the latest energy firm to decide to hike prices, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal – with almost half a million customers set to pay more from 1 April. If you're affected, check NOW if you can save by switching to a cheap fix or even a credit meter.

The price of fuel is at an 18-month high and experts have predicted that the cost of petrol and diesel will rise yet further this month. But there are manoeuvres you can make to drive down the price you pay at the pumps.

Former customers of Extra Energy who had £100s' worth of credit left on their accounts when they switched suppliers have been left waiting months for refunds. The energy company has blamed the delays on an IT issue and says final statements are now being sent to affected customers.

Customer complaints have increased at almost half of all water suppliers serving England and Wales, with gripes over billing and charges accounted for over 60% of all complaints across the industry, according to a consumer body.

An investigation into energy supplier Extra Energy has been launched by regulator Ofgem after a record number of complaints were lodged with Citizens Advice.

Age UK has vowed to address concerns around a lack of transparency after the Charity Commission branded its partnership with energy supplier E.on a "conflict of interest".

A company called The Big Deal has partnered with The Sun newspaper to run a collective energy switch, and the Great British Collective switch is also offering cheap tariffs on a regional basis. But how do the deals stack up on price and customer service – and how do they compare with MSE's own Big Switch Event 4?

Npower has become the fourth big six energy firm to announce a price drop this year – it's cutting the price of gas by 5.2% from 28 March. 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.

Sky has today announced prices for Sky Q, its new premium TV service that launches next month – and with packages starting at £42/mth with a £99 set-up fee, it doesn't come cheap.