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But often the place to start is to look at ways to reduce household bills including gas, electricity, water, phone and broadband. The majority of householders in the UK have failed to take advantage of competition in the utility markets and as a result are paying hundreds of pounds a  year more than they need to for their gas, electricity, telephone, Internet access, broadband as well as for mobile phones and digital TV.

In recent years UK consumers have seen big increases in their gas and electricity bills reflecting world energy prices. Although world oil prices are now down and wholesale gas prices have also fallen the UK energy companies have yet to pass significant savings on to customers through lower retail tariffs and in the longer term increases in energy prices seem inevitable. Although gas and electricity prices fell early in 2009 many consumers could save even more money by switching to a different supplier. You can check tariffs available in your area at Energy Helpline.

Often it isn't even necessary to change suppliers to save money, existing suppliers may have an alternative lower cost tariff, or will offer discounts for payment by direct debit, or even just to keep you as their customer if you threaten to switch to another supplier.

Consumers can save money if they opt for a dual fuel tariff using the same company to supply both gas and electricity.

If your main concern is avoiding unexpected increases in your energy bills look for one of the fixed rate tariffs offered by many of the energy suppliers.

Another option is to switch to capped tariff  that will mean you can benefit from reductions but protect yourself from unexpected increases. Scottish Power offers a Capped Price Energy Tariff that means that prices will not go above the cap until April 2010 so giving peace of mind during next winter. The tariff is higher than Scottish Power standard prices but if these fall so will the capped tariff.

Click here for more details.

And do look at the Green tariffs that are available, these may not cost more than standard tariffs but you can be sure that the electricity you use is matched by the company purchasing electricity from renewable sources. See npower juice.

For anyone with Internet access a good place  to start is one of the price comparison websites such as Energy Helpline.

Reducing energy consumption will save money as well as reducing household carbon emissions. For more go to the Money Jungle Climate Change page. Simple measures like better insulation, installing energy saving light bulbs, taking showers instead of baths, turning the central heating thermostat down by 1 degree can make a big difference.

Anyone with a gas fired central heating boiler over 10 years old will find it is only about 65% efficient.

• Free five year warranty on all Vaillant boilers
• Free no obligation quotation personalised to your individual needs.
• Save up to £275 off your bills when you switch to a new 'A' rated boiler
• Competitive prices

You can't switch to an alternative water company but you can reduce consumption by installing a water saving device in the WC cistern or buying a water butt to collect water from your roof or shed. Of course this will only make a difference if you have a water meter, if you haven't it may be cost effective to get one installed particularly in a one or two person household. Check with your water company who will be able to estimate your consumption to check if you would save money, most properties will qualify for free installation.

Find energy, phone and broadband providers in the Business Directory

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