Press & PR

Following yesterday's annual Budget announcement by chancellor Alistair Darling, uSwitch has commented on whether concessions made for those struggling with bills will have a long term effect.

The price comparison states that while Mr Darling promised a "five-year freeze" on the winter fuel allowance - which subsidises energy costs for those struggling to keep warm in the winter - he failed to offset the £446 average increase in energy spending seen since 2004.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, says: "The measures announced are certainly a step in the right direction, but they still fall short by some considerable distance. We already know that patchy, piecemeal attempts to tackle this issue do not work."

She added that if real gains are to be made in reducing the costs of keeping homes warm, the government must work proactively with regulators and energy companies to address the fundamental causes of price increases.

A recent government Keep Warm Keep Well campaign has been launched to try and raise awareness of the problems facing older generations trying to stay on top of their energy bills.

Vonage is committed to keeping phone bills low, with a flat rate V-Plan 1 tariff available for £5.99 a month.