Your location can affect your energy bills
Rather worrying I thought, Switch with Which? The idependent consumer advice web site say that where you live can affect how much you pay for gas and electricity.
In January Npower varied their gas prices in the UK according to the cost of piping it to your home. So amazingly if you just happen to live nearer wherever Npower begin piping gas in the UK you’re better off when it comes to your bill - how unfair is that for people who don’t live as close?! This is creating a ‘lucky dip’ for customers who have to pay the bills. Scottish and Southern Energy and Scottish Power have since introduced a similar ‘lucky dip’ bill system and British Gas are thinking about doing the same. It would certainly be a bit of positive publicity and a good way to attract new switching customers if one of these energy companies could prove they do not charge us for piping the gas around the UK. After all that’s part of their job and it should be factored into the maufacturing costs NOT passed onto the consumer by means of another bill increase.
Switch with Which? Say that as more gas suppliers adopt this pricing structure combined with the recent price increases, lots of people will have seen their home energy bills rise above inflation and smash the £1,000 per year mark!
Siobhan Parker at Switch with Which? says: “The adoption of regional gas prices by some suppliers further emphasises price variations around the country. Npower has announced an average gas increase of 12.8 per cent, but customers living in regions such as London and the East Midlands are being hit with a much bigger price rise of 23.8 per cent. People must vote with their feet and seek out the best deal to combat the effects of what is ultimately a postcode lottery.”
Moving house is one drastic solution to change tariff and lower energy bills, but there is an easier option. Websites such as www.switchwithwhich.co.uk allow people to compare thousands of tariffs on a regional basis to find a cheaper energy supplier. When switching energy suppliers you should also consider opting for an online tariff if you have internet access. An online tariff can be hundreds of pounds cheaper because the energy company doesn’t have the administrational costs involved with an offline account. Get comparing and switching now!