Press & PR

In an attempt to protect their finances from price hikes by utilities providers, consumers could be tempted to opt for fixed tariffs instead.

This is the opinion of Paul Schofield, the head of utilities at price comparison site moneysupermarket.com.

He suggested that fixed price tariffs could serve to reassure customers looking for the best deals.

Mr Schofield warned that this option does come at a cost, with yearly bills for such consumers typically coming in at £200 more.

"However, if prices continue to rise, those who gamble to fix now may be quids in later," he concluded.

According to research by the comparison site, npower's SOL 11 tariff works out the cheapest for most consumers.

However, the most cost-efficient provider differs between regions, so Mr Schofield urged consumers to do their homework and establish the best possible deal for their individual circumstances.

RWE npower supplies gas and electricity to some 6.8 million customers through npower, its retail business arm.
Meanwhile, those wishing to be confident of the costs associated with their telecommunications should take a look at the price plans offered by Vonage.

Vonage is committed to delivering savings on the costs of keeping in touch, with cheap call solutions available using broadband phone services.