Bristol Energy takes the alternative approach

What is Bristol Energy?
Bristol Energy is a supplier founded by Bristol Council in 2015. It describes itself as 'a force for social good' and looks to deliver energy on a not for profit basis. The company focuses on using renewable energy to bring lower prices to consumers than the Big Six.


Bristol Energy has hit the headlines this week due to an alternative take on environmentally producing energy in the UK.

The new scheme aims to use actual human bodily waste to create a substance known as biomethane. This is a gas that is a clean alternative to fossil fuels, and therefore more environmentally friendly.

Working in collaboration with GENeco, the organisation will turn poo from the local residents into energy. Furthermore, any profits from the alternative service will be reinvested into the community.

The science behind it works as follows:

• GENeco turns the waste into a sludgy substance
• The sludge goes through anaerobic digestion
• This process creates a biogas
• Biogas is then cleaned and transformed
• The new substance is the same composition as natural gas (98% methane)

This innovative project will also look to use waste food products in a similar way. Want to find out more about how the project works? Click here to watch the video and find out more.

Interested to find out if a scheme like this can save money on your business energy bills? Contact Energy Advice Line today by calling 0800 915 1800 to get a free, no obligation quote and see how much you could save.

Energy should be simple - let's make it so

The Energy Advice Line has welcomed calls by an industry insider for the Big Six suppliers to introduce simple changes that would see customers paying less for their energy, and being treated more fairly.

Julian Morgan, managing directer of the price comparison, switching, and advice service for energy users, said regulators should heed the comments by First Utility, a leading independent supplier, and enforce the changes.

"First Utility has echoed what we have been saying for some time - that energy companies need to make simple changes, like actually talking to their customers, in order to restore trust and deliver them a better deal," Mr Morgan said.

"We hope that Ofgem takes on board what this supplier is saying and apply the recommendations across the market - and crack down on those who don't fall into line."

Ed Kamm, chief customer officer at First Utility, has claimed that the Big Six suppliers avoid communicating with their customers because they know customers are "overpaying".

Mr Kamm made the claims as he identified four simple changes suppliers should be forced to make to ensure households and businesses pay less for their energy and are treated more fairly. He said regulators should:

• force suppliers to talk to their customers: customers who were prompted to supply meter readings or switch to a new tariff when their deals epired, were likely to pay less for their energy
• call things what they are: 70% of major energy supplier customers are on a standard tariff, which generally costs hundreds of pounds more than the cheapest deal. Mr Kamm said there was nothing standard about this tariff and that it should be called 'out of contract tariff'
• make switching easier: introduce 24-hour switching and fine suppliers who fail to get it right
• make bills and tariffs simple: not succumb to pressure from suppliers to reverse recent changes that slashed the number of tariffs each supplier can offer to just four

Mr Morgan said all of the recommendations, especially making switching easier, could transform the relationship between customers and suppliers that had suffered so badly in recent years.

"If suppliers were customer-focused rather than profit-focused, all parts of the energy market would benefit, including suppliers themselves," Mr Morgan said.

"Customers should be told when cheaper deals are available, their tariffs should be simple to understand and it should be simple to change supplier if there are cheaper deals elsewhere.

"But this is not the way it works in practice. Suppliers have built their business models on discouraging customers from engaging with them or taking a pro-active approach to their energy supplies.

"It's got to change and we hope Ofgem takes heed of what this industry insider has to say."

The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK's leading price comparison and switching services for business and domestic energy customers. It is also an advocate for energy market reform and has campaigned for a better deal for energy users, including calling for a ban on cold calling and changes to regulations to make it easier for all consumers to switch suppliers.

This service is completely independent and free. Consumers can quickly and simply search the market for the best available energy deals from an extensive panel of small and large energy suppliers. The service also offers a free advice line for business energy customers.

For further information visit www.energyadviceline.org.uk

Seek independents when switching this year

The UK’s most highly rated price comparison and switching service for energy users has urged consumers in search of the best deals to seek out smaller independent suppliers.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the service ranked number one on consumer feedback site Trustpilot, said more independent suppliers were entering the energy market than ever and challenging the monopoly of the Big Six.

“The clear message for consumers is that there are highly competitive alternatives to the major players now and it makes sound financial sense to take a look at what the independents are offering,” Mr Morgan said.

“Consumers have made it clear that they have lost faith in the Big Six after years of high prices and lack of competition in the market. I am pleased to report that that situation has started to change.

Smart meter deadline passes

Energy suppliers in the UK have failed to meet their self-imposed targets for reducing the amount of back billing to consumers. Those with smart meters have been hit with unexpected bills following smart meters not reporting usage correctly.

Suppliers predicted that late 2016 would have been the end to this practice, however, none of the Big Six or independent suppliers have achieved this. They are still back-billing for 12 months, as opposed to reducing the period to six months.

Smart meters are due to be installed into all UK homes over the next four years, and will provide accurate readings in real-time for generating more accurate bills and avoiding any nasty surprises. Over 2 million of the homes already using these meters have experienced some sort of problem with the accuracy and have had to make additional payments.

Previously, Ofgem had commended this plan as a great improvement for customers who may have struggled in the past to provide accurate meter readings in time for their bill each month. Billpayers would be protected from surprising costs if the ability to read meters in real time prevented the amount of inaccurate bills.

Citizens Advice has hit out at Ofgem to try and create a stricter regulation on this practice, highlighting "it’s not right that people with this technology should suffer because of suppliers’ mistakes". The service dealt with 1,500 smart meter issues in 2016 and almost a third of those issues were directly related to billing problems - doubling the amount dealt with in 2015.

SSE came under fire earlier in the year as a software issue meant that users were looking at bills of more than £30,000. They have since issued a statement to say that a fix has been issued and correct readings can still be accessed on the website.

Julian Morgan, managing director of Energy Advice Line, commented on the importance of getting smart meters right. "Consumers will be reliant on this technology to keep track of their energy spend and ensure that they are only being charged for what they are using. Back bills have always caught customers out and hopefully suppliers can stick to their promises to ensure that this can be avoided in the future."

Figures from 2016 show that smart meters have been installed in around 8% of UK households so far.

To make sure that you are always paying the best price for your energy, visit energyadviceline.org.uk and check out the latest costs on the market.

Keep energy simple

The Energy Advice Line has welcomed calls by an industry insider for the Big Six suppliers to introduce simple changes that would see customers paying less for their energy, and being treated more fairly.

Julian Morgan, managing directer of the price comparison, switching, and advice service for energy users, said regulators should heed the comments by First Utility, a leading independent supplier, and enforce the changes.

"First Utility has echoed what we have been saying for some time - that energy companies need to make simple changes, like actually talking to their customers, in order to restore trust and deliver them a better deal," Mr Morgan said.

Consumers need lower prices

The Energy Advice Line has urged Ofgem to investigate network costs as a matter of priority in a bid to improve competition in the UK energy market and deliver lower prices to consumers.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy customers, said the costs were a significant factor in domestic and business energy bills and needed to be tackled.

The energy watchdog, Ofgem, has come under fire from MPs for failing to crack down on the energy distribution and transmission costs charged by network companies and passed on to consumers by suppliers.

MPs said the price caps intended to keep the costs down were too generous, and network costs were now a significant and overlooked factor in high bills.

Mr Morgan said the average dual fuel bill now cost more than £1,300 per year, with network charges making up almost a quarter of the total. Ofgem needed to do everything in its power to reduce the effective monopoly enjoyed by network companies such as National Grid, Scottish and Southern Energy and Northern Power Grid, he said.

“Ofgem claims it will take eight years to see whether value for money is being delivered to the UK energy market as a result of its regulatory reforms but this is too long for hard-pressed consumers to wait,” Mr Morgan said.

“It needs to put pressure on both network companies and suppliers to reduce these network costs and pass the savings on. There is ample room for customers to enjoy much better value for money.

“The system is also too complex and confusing for consumers, with prices varying around the country and many people very unsure about what these charges are actually for.

“It’s time Ofgem used its regulatory muscle to force energy companies to bring these charges down and it make this aspect of energy bills simpler.”

MPs have asked Ofgem to investigate the feasibility of a national tariff to simplify charging and make prices less volatile, and called on the government to do more to encourage smaller generators to enter the market to increase competition.

“While there are some things that consumers have no control over, like network charges, they can do what they can to keep their bills down by shopping around and switching supplier to make sure they’re on the lowest possible tariff,” Mr Morgan said.

The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK's leading price comparison and switching services for business and domestic energy customers. It is also an advocate for energy market reform and has campaigned for a better deal for energy users, including calling for a ban on cold calling and changes to regulations to make it easier for all consumers to switch suppliers.

The service is completely independent and free. Consumers can quickly and simply search the market for the best available energy deals from an extensive panel of small and large energy suppliers. The service also offers a free advice line for business energy customers.

For further information visit energyadviceline.org.uk

Don't put off relocation

The Energy Advice Line has urged small businesses that need to move premises to get in touch after a survey showed 20% of firms put off relocating because they cannot face changing service providers.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy users said it was unfortunate that so many business owners were staying in potentially inappropriate premises because dealing with suppliers was so hard.

“Small business owners should get in touch with us because we can sort out their business energy needs, leaving them free to get on with moving and ensuring their firms make a smooth transition to new premises,” Mr Morgan said.

Households save hundreds when switching

Shopping around and switching suppliers is confirmed to lead to significant savings after a government programme saved 130,000 homes a combined £38 million, according to The Energy Advice Line.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy users, said consumers who doubted the benefits of changing suppliers should heed the findings of the programme.

The DECC said 350,000 people had visited its website in the month after the launch, and 130,000 households had switched energy supplier. This was 80% more than over the same period the year before.

Don't put off switching!

The Energy Advice Line has urged small businesses that need to move premises to get in touch after a survey showed 20% of firms put off relocating because they cannot face changing service providers.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy users said it was unfortunate that so many business owners were staying in potentially inappropriate premises because dealing with suppliers was so hard.

“Small business owners should get in touch with us because we can sort out their business energy needs, leaving them free to get on with moving and ensuring their firms make a smooth transition to new premises,” Mr Morgan said.

Are you getting the service you deserve?

Business energy users and households should consider customer service as well as price when choosing a supplier, according to the Energy Advice Line.

The call follows a newspaper survey that showed a huge disparity between suppliers when it came to total spending on customer service.

“Instances of very poor customer service and bungling by energy suppliers still abound and this comparison of spending sheds interesting light on possible reasons why,” Mr Morgan said.

“The difference between the highest and lowest spenders on customer service is significant, so it seems sensible to consider factors in addition to price when making a decision on which supplier to go with.”

The Telegraph newspaper defined customer service to including complaints handling as well as simple requests such as a change of address, and any technology that customers can use to communicate with their supplier.

Of those suppliers who responded to the request for information about spending on customer services, Scottish Power rated the highest at £42 per head per year. However, this included a one-off investment to improve out-of-date IT systems and does not reflect ongoing investment in customer services. Ofgem banned the firm from recruiting new customers last month until it had fixed its customer services problems.

First Utility was ranked second highest spender at £26 per customer each year, followed by British Gas (£16), E.On (£14) and npower (at least £6.67). EDF and SSE refused to disclose their customer services spending.

“We help countless customers each year who contact us in desperation and frustration at the terrible standards of customer service offered by their supplier,” Mr Morgan said.

“Resolving a problem with a bill, or even changing something as simple as an address, can prove to be a time-consuming and infuriating exercise. If you are a business this can be an expensive waste of time.

“We would urge all customers not to make price the only factor when choosing supplier, although value-for-money is obviously crucial.

“Our expert advisers, who know the energy industry well, can help you make the right informed choice.”

The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK's leading price comparison and switching services for business and domestic energy customers. It is also an advocate for energy market reform and has campaigned for a better deal for energy users, including calling for a ban on cold calling and changes to regulations to make it easier for all consumers to switch suppliers.

The service is completely independent and free. Consumers can quickly and simply search the market for the best available energy deals from an extensive panel of small and large energy suppliers. The service also offers a free advice line for business energy customers.

For further information visit www.energyadviceline.org.uk

Profit margins higher than estimated

The Energy Advice Line has welcomed calls by Ofgem for consumers to switch energy suppliers now in order to save up to £250 a year on their gas and electricity bills.

The call followed confirmation by the regulator that energy companies were failing to fully pass on the fall in wholesale gas prices they had enjoyed in the past year.

Quizzed by MPs this week about why suppliers had failed to deliver bigger price cuts to consumers, Ofgem chiefs agreed this was a “cause for concern”.

But they said they were focusing on encouraging consumers to change suppliers to make savings, adding, “generally it is a good time to switch”.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy consumers, said Ofgem’s advice was sound even when retail energy prices were falling.

“Most of the Big Six suppliers have now announced reduced charges for household gas after prices they pay in the wholesale market have fallen,” Mr Morgan said.

“However, this does not mean that consumers can sit back and assume they will enjoy dramatically lower bills. Sadly, this won’t be the case.

“Ofgem itself has raised concerns about why the size of the cuts being passed on are so small, and has pointed out that the best way for households and businesses to make the most of falling gas prices is to shop around, find the best deals and switch accordingly.”

The committee of MPs this week heard that Ofgem forecasts that customers' average dual-fuel bills will now drop by £21 to £1,305 in the year ahead.

At the same time, the profit margin per customer of a typical large supplier will rise to £114, £9 more than Ofgem estimated last November.

Energy companies have argued that the wholesale price of gas only makes up about half of a domestic energy bill and that they therefore cannot pass on the entire fall in the price they pay for energy.

But Mr Morgan expressed disappointment that the regulator and energy companies were still unable to agree on the basics of costs, prices and profits in the energy market after years of discussion.

“Suppliers and the regulator are still bickering about how profit margins are calculated, which is very disappointing and of no help to consumers at all,” Mr Morgan said.

“What ordinary energy bill payers need is a transparent and competitive energy market so that they can make fully informed choices."

The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK's leading price comparison and switching services for business and domestic energy customers. It is also an advocate for energy market reform and has campaigned for a better deal for energy users, including calling for a ban on cold calling and changes to regulations to make it easier for all consumers to switch suppliers.

The service is completely independent and free. Consumers can quickly and simply search the market for the best available energy deals from an extensive panel of small and large energy suppliers. The service also offers a free advice line for business energy customers.

For further information visit www.energyadviceline.org.uk

Nottingham tackles fuel poverty

Fuel poverty is an issue that affects millions across the country. With rising prices in the energy market, some are finding it harder than ever to make ends meet and often paying bills falls to the bottom of the pile.

Dubbed the modern day's answer to Robin Hood, Nottingham Council are taking the issue into their own hands and doing what they can to tackle the notorious Big Six suppliers.

Current rates for those living in fuel poverty are thought to be one in ten households, rising to as high as one in five for those renting privately.

Robin Hood Energy was registered as a not-for-profit in 2015. Buying electricity from the National Grid and selling it on at reasonable prices means that families in Nottingham need not worry about their bills as much each month.

Case studies from the initiative have shown that families could be saving at least £1,000 a year by moving to the independent supplier. Other councils have also begun creating their own programmes with Leeds providing their residents with a cheaper alternative.

With many reviewing their financial situations in light of the new year it always pays to be aware of your energy spend and where costs could be more efficiently managed. Switching off unused lights and turning the thermostat down a few degrees are good places to start but beginning with a competitive rate in the first place will save both time and effort.

Compare the latest rates at Energy Advice Line and if you find a cheaper price then the sales advisors will facilitate the switch for you taking away any stress or hassle for you.

Cold energy storage plant for Manchester

Manchester will be the home of a new cold energy storage plant as a new commisson shows.

The plant will store energy cryogenically from a mixture of renewable and off-peak generation with a process involving chilling the air into a liquid form. Once the air is warmed back up it will expand and power a turbine into generating electricity.

It is predicted that up to 5,000 homes could be powered for about three hours from the 5MW energy plant run by Highview Power Storage. The company believes that this technology has real potential and could be further improved for long-term use with green sources.

As developments continue to be made with renewable energy, further stress is placed on the traditional method of energy generation and suppliers must to what they can in order to remain competitive.

Consumers must remain vigilant when keeping an eye on their energy spend to ensure that they are receiving the best prices and that their supplier is keeping a competitive edge over all others.

The Energy Advice Line is a service for both business and domestic customers that is both free and impartial. By allowing customers to check prices online 24 hours a day and seven days a week, there is no need to worry about whether or not you have the time to check out the market place.

The free service carries out the whole process from beginning to end, and manages the switch for you. In uncertain times, you can rely on Energy Advice Line to provide a service you can trust, and to save you money.

For more information visit energyadviceline.org.uk

Independents suffer as wholesale prices rise

The volatile state of the current energy market has been highlighted within recent weeks, indicated by the collapse of GB Energy in November. As one of the new independent suppliers, GB Energy had 12 staff and around 160,000 customers on the database. But what caused their demise?

Wholesale prices have risen dramatically over the past few months and smaller energy suppliers are struggling to keep up with supply and demand.

Industry analysts and experts predict that this will be an ongoing trend over the coming months and years for the new suppliers as they can't handle the rising costs of supplying their customers. Despite having a poor year, it looks as if the Big Six will start to see an increase on their market share with more independents dropping from the race.

The UK government has encouraged the development of over 40 companies in the last five years due to their belief that the competition will help to drive down the overall cost of customer's bills. Weaker prices in 2014 allowed new suppliers to take advantage and offer more appealing deals to potential customers.

Prices were already on a steady rise in the UK following the trend of oil prices, however the decision to leave the EU resulted in higher costs for importing gas, coal and electricity.

Four of the Big Six energy suppliers are owned by companies in mainland Europe, so it is currently believed that their prices may not be too drastically affected. EDF is French, EON is German, Scottish Power is part of a Spanish company, and NPower run by a company in Germany.

Power supplies are tightened heading into winter as demand rises. How this will affect prices for consumers is yet to be seen.

It is more important than ever to make sure that the price you're paying is the most competitive on the market. GB Energy customers have been taken over by Co-Op Energy, however there is still the option to shop around - an automatic transfer may not always mean the same tariff or discounts. For more details on saving on your energy spend visit energyadviceline.org.uk

Most expensive energy tariffs revealed

As winter draws in and energy bills start to creep up, a list has been published that highlights the ten worst energy deals on the UK. Four of which are misleadingly labelled as a 'standard' tariff.

Four of the Big Six energy companies feature on the list where independent supplier Co-operative Energy sits in the number one spot with their 'Green Pioneer' tariff.

Npower, Scottish Power, SSE, and EDF are the four Big Six companies named and shamed this month. Pay as you go customers are still in the dark as to how their tariff truly measures up as this research only takes into consideration those on contracted prices.

Co-operative energy came in at the top of the list with a total cost of £361 per year than the cheapest tariff on the market.

Overall an estimated total of 2.3 million people are using these ten tariffs, and are typically higher priced as they require the customer to pay by cash or cheque, rather than the cheaper option of monthly direct debits.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison and switching service, Energy Advice Line, commented, "It's more important than ever for consumers to not only be aware of the price that they are apying, but also how their chosen method of payment can affect their overall annual spend.

"It's reached that time of year where bills start to rocket due to the colder weather and turning on the central heating. Be sensible with your temperatures and don't find yourself landed with a large bill out of the blue."

The Energy Advice Line provides a service that is not only free, but also completely impartial. Advice is available for both business and domestic customers that may need assistance in understanding their bills, or finding the best rate.

For more information visit energyadviceline.org.uk

Energy Advice Line joins warnings about post-Brexit price hikes

The Energy Advice Line has joined the chorus of energy experts warning that household and business energy prices could be about to rise, driven partly by the Brexit vote.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy users, said the Co-op had already advised that it would be raising bills by between 3% and 6% from October 1 - representing an increase up to £70.

"Not only has the wholesale price of gas risen steadily over the past three months, but the value of sterling has fallen against the euro, representing a double whammy for British consumers," Mr Morgan said.

"This means thast as well as the wholesale price of energy rising, imports are 10% high still due to currency fluctuations.

"The Co-op has signaled that the average bill for dual-fuel customers on a standard plan will rise from £1,152 to £1,184 a year, while people with pre-payment meters could find their bills rising from £1,115 to £1,184.

"This is worrying and could be a sign that other suppliers are about to follow suit."

Independent energy consultant Cornwall Energy has confirmed that changes in the exchange rate since Brexit had made power more expensive in Britain. Gas imported from other European countries was used for household energy suppliers and for burning in power stations to produce electricity, it explained.

Mr Morgan said this meant that suppliers, especially smaller companies unable to buy their energy as far ahead as the Big Six, would inevitably pass on these extra costs to consumers.

"The only thing consumers can do is to fight back and switch suppliers," Mr Morgan said. "Despite the overall upward trend, good deals are still available, even as we head into winter. It's crucial that consumers shop around - ideally come to us for advice about the best deals available."

Even without the upward pressure on energy bills, Mr Morgan said, the Competition and Markets Authority recently concuded that customers who stayed on the most expensive standard tariffs were collectively wasting as much as £1.7 billion a year.

"It makes complete sense to regularly switch supplier and seek out the good deals elsewhere, regardless of what's happening to wholesale energy prices and the exchange rate," Mr Morgan said.

The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK's leading price comparison and switching services for business and domestic energy customers. It is also an advocate for energy reform and has campaigned for a better deal for energy users, uncluding calling for a ban on cold calling and changes to regulations to make it easier for all consumers to switch suppliers.

The service is completely independent and free. Consumers can quickly and simply search the market for the best available energy deals from an extensive panel of small and large energy suppliers. THe service also offers a free advice line for business energy customers.

For further information visit energyadviceline.org.uk

Protection plans for the vulnerable

Plans by Ofgem to introduce a price cap for pre-payment customers would not solve fundamental problems with the energy pricing system, according to Energy Advice Line.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy users, said the proposal aimed at helping vulnerable customers did not include incentives for more people to engage with the market and switch suppliers.

"Ofgem has announced it will go ahead with recommendations made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in its report earlier in this year for four million pre-pay customers to have their energy bills capped," Mr Morgan said.

"It is true that these customers need help because they're paying an average of £220 a year more than those on the cheapest deals, because suppliers say pre-meters are more expensive than standard.

"But the plans do not address the energy market's fundamental problem. More than 70% of the customers of the Big Six suppliers are on standard tariffs - by far the most expensive on the market. Quite simply, they are paying far more than they need to, and this isn't fair.

"The CMA report didn't go far enough to incentivise the vast majority of customers who are disengaged from the market and paying over the odds."

Bosses at First Utility, one of the UK's smaller energy companies, has suggested that Big Six customers who do not switc hsupplier after a certain period of time should automatically be flipped to the best tariff.

In this report, the CMA admitted that customers on the most expensive tariffs could save £300 a year by switching, but other than the price cap for pre-payments, did not make suggestions incentivising enough to encourage more people to switch.

It recommended that current rules limiting suppliers to a maximum of four tariffs should be scrapped in order to promote more competition. It suggested that energy firms that supply micro-businesses - those that employ fewer than 10 people - should be forced to be more transparent, by publishing their prices.

The report also said that these tiny SMEs should not be locked into expensive 'roll-over' contracts.

"These suggestions are all well and good, but will do little to reduce the pain of householders and businesses struggling with high bills, or encourage them to shop around and switch," Mr Morgan said.

The Energy Advice Line is a consumer champion and an independent price comparison and switching service for householders and small and medium-sized businesses. The service enables consumers to quickly and simply compare electricity and gas prices, and to switch to the best available deal on the market.

The service also offers free advice and a contract management service, including alerts to remind business consumers when their fixed-term energy contracts are about to end.

For further information, visit energyadviceline.org.uk

Not enough people switch

Record numbers of consumers switched energy supplier in July despite the summer holiday break, but millions are still paying over the odds for their gas and electricity, according to the Energy Advice Line.

New government figures show that 333,653 customers switched suppliers last month - 22% more than at the same time last year - bringing the total number of switchers for the year to 2.7 million.

"These figures are obviously good news, as switching is the best and cheapest way to save money on your energy bills," Mr Morgan said. "This fact is confirmed by the government and the regulator.

"The problem is that according to a recent report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), 70% of the customers of hte Big Six suppliers are languishing on the most expensive standard tariffs.

"In other words, the vast majority of energy consumers in the UK could switch to a much cheaper deal - and save £300 a year in the process - but they don't.

"So while these recent figures are a step in the right direction, there is still a very long way to go."

The figures also show that 76,174 customers switched to small and medium suppliers in July, representing almost one-quarter of all switches. Mr Morgan said that this suggested consumers continued to lack confidence in the Big Six suppliers.

The government claims the record number of switchers is a result of government initiatives to make the switching process simpler, and by highlighting the benefits of changing supplier.

But Mr Morgan said more incentives were urgently needed to incentivise long-term non-switchers to engage with the market and save money in the process.

"Various initiatives have been put in place, such as providing customers with clearer and simpler information on their bills in order to be able to compare prices more easily," Mr Morgan said.

"But lots more needs to be done to persuade people who never shop around to do so, and to convince them that the savings that can be achieved can be considerable."

"I urge anyone who hasn't switched supplier recently - particularly the large numbers who haven't done so for years, to seek out some of the great deals that are around at the moment," Mr Morgan said.

"Using a reliable and independent service like the Energy Advice Line makes it quick and simple, and could potentially save you hundreds of pounds."

The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK's leading price comparison and switching services for business and domestic energy customers. It is also an advocate for energy market reform and has campaigned for a better deal for energy users, including calling for a ban on cold calling and changes to regulations to make it easier for all consumers to switch suppliers.

The service is completely independent and free. Consumers can quickly and simply search the market for the best available energy deals from an extensive panel of small and large energy suppliers. The service also offers a free advice line for business energy customers.

For further information visit energyadviceline.org.uk

More grants for SMEs, says Energy Advice Line

The Energy Advice Line has called for the government to provide more grants to cover the installation costs of energy efficiency measures.

Mr Morgan's calls are in line with a survey by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), which found that 36% of small and medium sized firms believe the "most important thing" the government can do is incentivize energy efficiency installations through grants.

"Most SMEs know what energy saving measures they could and should put in place, but the upfront costs are a massive disincentive," Mr Morgan said. "In face, 15% of those businesses surveyed felt the energy savings would not prove beneficial to the installation costs.

"The government provides financial incentives to big energy suppliers to implement low-carbon policies; SMEs deserve similar financial support so they can put in place the equipment they need to reduce their energy consumption.

"This equipment would obviously benefit from their bottom line, as well as the planet, but the up-front costs are prohibitive for many small firms, who already struggle with their  cash flow and profitability.

"It would make sound financial and environmental sense for the government to help firms with the initial costs of doing something that would benefit all stakeholders."

The BCC survey, carried out in partnership woth Big Six supplier British Gas, involved more than 2,100 British businesses - 91% of them SMEs. The survey revealed that businesses are already aware of what energy measures could be put in place, with only 8% requesting more information. In total, 15% of those surveyed felt that the energy savings would not be worth the investment.

More than a quarter of businesses that currently rent their facilities and premises revealed they have no influence on energy efficiency improvements. In light of the finding, the BCC called on landlords to do more for leaseholders that were 'looking to save money and make their energy work for them'.

Mr Morgan added that SMEs keen on cutting their energy costs should regularly chase the best deals and switch suppliers. "There's no expensive upfront investment required, and it's quick and simple - there aren't many ways to save significant amounts of money that are this easy," Mr Morgan said.

The Energy Advice Line is one of the UK's leading price comparison and switching services for business and domestic energy customers. It is also an advocate for energy market reform and has campaigned for a better deal for energy users, including calling for a ban on cold calling and changes to regulations to make it easier for all consumers to switch suppliers.

The service is completely independent and free. Consumers can quickly and simply search the market for the best available energy deals from an extensive panel of small and large energy suppliers. The service also offers a free advice line for business energy customers.

For further information visit energyadviceline.org.uk

Which supplier is under review now?

Customer complaints have forced energy market regulator Ofgem to conduct an experiment into one of the suppliers outside of the Big Six.

Usually it's one of the Big Six being investigated off the back of a high number of complaints - this time it's the turn of Extra Energy to be examined whether or not the supplier broke the rules on billing, customer service and complaints handling.

Looking back over the past five years, it has been found that Extra Energy received more complaints than any other supplier. Earlier this year Citizens Advice highlighted that the company averaged 1,682 for every 100,000 customers making it the highest recorded rate since 2011.

The company have assured Ofgem that they have since improved their customer services, making multiple changes including hiring 150 extra staff, relocating their offices to Birmingham, creating tamer sales pitches, and reducing call waiting times to an average of 45 seconds. Extra Energy attribute part of the problem to the growth of the company happening too quickly for them to cope with.

Ofgem's investigation is currently underway, however if they do find that Extra Energy has broken rules regarding customer handling then they will face a fine to the sum of 10% of it's annual turnover.

If you're not happy with the service your energy supplier is providing, you're not stuck. We can help you to facilitate the switch, and save money in the process. For free, impartial advice contact energyadviceline.org.uk