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BRITS SPLIT PERSONALITY WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY HABITS

A study by OnePoll and Rexel showed that most of the British public have a ‘split personality’ when it come to their energy efficiency habits. While half of the people surveyed described themselves as energy conscious at home, only 20% were prepared to say about their behaviour at work. Similarly, 70% said they were concerned about wasting energy at home with just 43% taking that concern in to their office and actually 60% of employees actively charge electronic devices in the office in order to save money on their homes energy bills.

What this research shows is that people will almost actively adapt their behaviour so as to avoid paying the price of rising energy prices at home. On average an office worker spends at least 40 hours a week at work, so we are seeing a HUGH percentage of the country's energy consumption taking place at offices across the nation.

It is more important now than ever for business owners to take control of their energy costs in the same way they would in their own homes. Businesses need to shop around and see what offers are on the market. 

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ScottishPower to offer business customers more flexibility

ENERGYLINX: ScottishPower has announced that from April 2014 it will stop offering default auto-rollover contracts to new business customers.

  In a bid to produce greater flexibility and control for its 225,000 business customers, ScottishPower has said it will no longer be offering auto-rollover contracts to new small business customers, starting from April 2014. The supplier's new approach to business energy is geared towards offering SME customers more choice concerning their energy contracts. At present, ScottishPower business customers who choose not to get in touch with the supplier at the point of renewal are currently rolled onto one of the company's standard fixed term contracts. From April 2014, these automatic rollover deals will no longer be available to new customers.

In addition, the supplier has committed to reducing the period for back billing business customers to just 12 months. ScottishPower had already reduced the period to 24 months in January 2013, and the new 12 month rule will come into effect in January 2014. ScottishPower’s business customers will also benefit from its lenient rules on contract negotiations. The supplier offers business customers to negotiate new energy contracts up to 60 days prior to the expiration of their current contract. Most suppliers allow for just 30 days to renegotiate.

That said, SME customers should consider taking a few seconds to explore the business energy market prior to signing on to a new contract with any one supplier. The average SME could save an annual £1,121 just by shopping around - and with ENERGYLINX for business, comparing the market couldn't be faster or easier.

Exactly like Energylinx, ENERGYLINX for business is 100% free for customers to use - and is also 100% impartial.

Click here to instantly compare Electricity deals for your business.

Click here to instantly compare Gas deals for your business. 

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nPower changes business approach

ENERGYLINX: nPower has announced that from April 2014 it will stop offering default auto-rollover contracts to new business customers.

The supplier's new approach to business energy is geared towards offering SME customers more choice concerning their energy contracts. At present, nPower business customers who choose not to get in touch with the supplier at the point of renewal are currently rolled onto one of the company's standard fixed term contracts. From April 2014, these automatic rollover deals will no longer be available to new customers.

Existing customers will benefit from current rollover deals until November 2014. After November 2014, customers whose contracts are set to expire will be offered a choice of fixed or variable rate products rather than a default rollover deal. If customers fail to get in touch by the time their tariff has expired, nPower will automatically place them on a variable rate product that they have the power to leave at short notice.

That said, SME customers should consider taking a few seconds to explore the business energy market prior to signing on to a new contract with any one supplier. The average SME could save an annual £1,121 just by shopping around - and with ENERGYLINX for business, comparing the market couldn't be faster or easier.

Exactly like Energylinx, ENERGYLINX for business is 100% free for customers to use - and is also 100% impartial.

Click here to instantly compare Electricity deals for your business.

Click here to instantly compare Gas deals for your business.

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Green Energy launches new tariff

ENERGYLINX: Green Energy has reshuffled its tariff structure after launching its latest deal: Tap.

The new tariff is made up of 100% green electricity, and features no standing charge. Instead, customers will only pay a flat rate for their electricity, with the only additional cost being VAT. Tap is available in electricity only, and has no early termination fees.

In line with the green supplier's mantra that energy deals should be clean and clear, Green Energy has also opted to rebrand its other two electricity tariffs. Green Energy's Pale Green tariff has been renamed 'Still', and the Deep Green plan has been rebranded 'Sparkling'. Rates for both bio-friendly tariffs have gone unchanged, and neither have early termination fees.

Founded in 2001, Hertfordshire-based Green Energy UK has evolved into one of the UK's premier renewable electricity providers. The supplier sources renewable energy directly from a number of technologies, including solar photovoltaics, wind, biomass, hydro, anaerobic digestion and CHP - which can be harnessed simply by growing tomatoes or heating water for one's home.

In order to learn more about Tap, Green Energy's latest tariff, try using our 100% free and impartial energy online energy comparison tool by clicking here.

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LoCO2 launches two new tariffs

ENERGYLINX: LoCO2 Energy has launched updated versions of its Planet Fixed and Pocket Fixed tariffs, effective from this week.

The Planet Fixed 3 tariff - which is replacing the Planet Fixed 2 - is one year, fixed rate tariff available in electricity only. 100% of the energy produced for this tariff is renewable, and is directly sourced from wind, hydro and solar power. The tariff has a standing charge, and an early termination fee of £25 applies. Customers can pay for this tariff by Monthly Direct Debit or on receipt of bill.

Unfortunately for incoming customers, the updated version of the Planet Fixed tariff will feature slightly higher rates.

Overall, Planet Fixed 3 customers can expect to pay an average of £45.81 more for their electricity than customers of the outgoing Planet Fixed 2 equivalent. This correlates to an increase of around 9.1%. Yet some areas won't face as high an increase as others. Those in Central Scotland can expect just under a 6% increase.

The second tariff that has been replaced is LoCO2's Pocket Fixed 7 tariff. In its place, LoCO2 has launched the Pocket Fixed 8. The Pocket Fixed 8 is a an electricity only tariff that features 12 months of fixed prices. Energy supplied via this deal is guaranteed to be at least 20% renewable. The other 80% is sourced from low-carbon CHP. Just as the Planet Fixed 3, the Pocket Fixed 8 features a standing charge, as well as an early termination fee of £25.

Incoming customers of LoCO2's Pocket Fixed 8 tariff can also expect to see slightly higher prices than those of its predecessor; however, the increases won't be quite as high as those of the Planet Fixed deal.

In general, Pocket Fixed 8 customers should expect to pay an average of £28.88 per year more than they would have under the previous version of the Pocket Fixed deal. Once more, customs in central Scotland may face lower rate increases, averaging at just £16.32 per year.

Established in 2009, LoCO2 Energy is an independent, family-run energy supplier that is part of a vertically integrated group of companies that generate, trade and sell renewable electricity. The relatively young supplier works closely with TLS Hydro in operating independent hydropower stations, and aims to provide customers with a new generation of affordable green electricity.

In addition, the supplier powers 100% of its own premises on renewable energy, develops vital community relationships with other sustainable organizations and is one of the only UK energy suppliers willing to offer its customers more than just the low government rate for domestic Feed in Tariff exports.

As with the introduction of any new tariff onto the market, Energylinx would highly recommend all customers pursue professional advice before switching suppliers. In order to learn more about the Pocket Fixed 8 or the Planet Fixed 3, try using our 100% free and impartial energy comparison tool online now.

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E.ON to remove two tariffs from market

ENERGYLINX: E.ON Energy is set to remove two of its tariffs from the market, effective from 1 July: the Age UK Fixed Price July 2013 and the E.ON Fixed Price 5.

The first of these tariffs, the Age UK Fixed Price July 2013, was a fixed rate tariff available to either single fuel or dual fuel customers. The tariff featured no early termination fees. As with most tariffs, E.ON will automatically transfer its Age UK Fixed Price Jul 2013 customers onto its standard rate Age UK plan - unless customers inform the supplier of their desire to do otherwise. It may be in customers' best interest to avoid the automatic switch.

Overall, Age UK Fixed Price July 2013 customers who fail to act could see their yearly dual fuel bill increase by an average of £134.65. Some regions could face an even higher increase with some customers in Liverpool seeing their bills increase by £161.88 per year, should they switch to E.ON's standard Age UK rates.

The second set to expire, the E.ON Fixed Price 5, was a two-year, fixed rate tariff without early termination fees. Just as the Age UK Fixed Price July 2013, E.ON Fixed Price 5 customers should expect to be transferred onto E.ON's standard-rate equivalent - the E.ON EnergyPlan - unless they inform E.ON of their preference to do otherwise. Those who fail to act should expect a substantial increase.

Overall, E.ON Fixed Price 5 dual fuel customers who are switch to E.ON's standard rate plan will face an average increase of £134.47 per year (or around 12%).

As with the removal of any tariffs from the market, Energylinx would highly advise all the Age UK Fixed Price July 2013 and the E.ON Fixed Price 5 customers to pursue professional advice before switching tariffs; after all, there are plenty of deals on the market, and customers need not expose themselves to such a sharp price increase unnecessarily. In order to instantly compare every deal on the market and find the right tariff for your home, click here to use our 100% free and impartial online energy comparison tool now.

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Sainsbury's Energy to remove two tariffs from market

Sainsbury's Energy will be removing two of its tariffs from the market, effective from 30 June: the Online Price Freeze June 2013 and the Discount Energy June 2013.

The first of these tariffs, the Online Price Freeze June 2013, was a dual fuel tariff that featured rates fixed at an 8.9% discount against Sainsbury's Standard January 2012 rates. If customers do not inform Sainsbury's of their desire to join another plan, the supplier will then automatically transfer Online Price Freeze June 2013 customers over to its Standard plan. The results could mean a detrimental bill increase.

Although the Online Price Freeze June 2013 was originally set against Sainsbury's Standard rates, those rates have risen dramatically since 2012. Consequently, customers who switch from the Online Price Freeze June 2013 to Sainsbury's Standard can expect to face average annual increases of £214.98 on their dual fuel energy bill. Some customers in Southeast England may face increases as high as £256.14 per year - a 24.9% increase on what they're currently paying.

Sainsbury's second tariff set to expire, the Discount Energy June 2013, will pose a slightly less dramatic increase. As with customers of the Online Price Freeze June 2013, Discount Energy customers should expect to be placed onto Sainsbury's Standard plan unless they inform the supplier of their intention to do otherwise. Overall, this switch could render an increase of around 4.46% per year (or an average of £54.40). Regional variations aren't significant.

As with the removal of any tariffs from the market, Energylinx would highly advise all Online Price Freeze June 2013 and Discount Energy June 2013 customers to pursue professional advice before switching tariffs; after all, there are plenty of deals on the market, and customers need not expose themselves to such a sharp price increase unnecessarily. In order to instantly compare every deal on the market and find the right tariff for your home, click here to use our 100% free and impartial online energy comparison tool now.

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first:utility removes tariff from market

ENERGYLINX: first:utility is set to remove its Smart as Standard Fixed v4 June 2013 tariff from the market, effective from 1 July.

The Smart as Standard Fixed was a fixed rate tariff available in dual fuel only. It had a standing charge, but no early termination fees. As with most tariffs, customers who don't inform first:utility of their desire to do otherwise will likely be automatically transferred onto the supplier's variable standard rate tariff, the iSave Everyday. As first:utility rates vary greatly by region, the potential impact of this switch could be substantial for some.

For example, dual fuel customers who live in or around Liverpool could face an increase of £75.06 per year by switching to first:utility's standard rates, while those in the Midlands could actually save £4.05 from the switch. Nationwide, Smart as Standard Fixed customers switching to standard rates will see an average increase of £32.60 per year, or around 2.63%.

As with the removal of any tariffs from the market, Energylinx would highly advise all Smart as Standard Fixed v4 June 2013 customers to pursue professional advice before switching tariffs; after all, there are plenty of deals on the market, and customers need not expose themselves to such a sharp price increase unnecessarily. In order to instantly compare every deal on the market and find the right tariff for your home, click here to use our 100% free and impartial online energy comparison tool now.

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Earn £50 cash back with Energylinx

ENERGYLINX: For a limited time, customers can receive up to £50 cash back by switching to ScottishPower via Energylinx.

This exclusive offer will see all energy customers receive cash back of £25 per fuel, across all ScottishPower tariffs. The offer is available only on Energylinx web platforms, and is not available by phone or with any other switching services.

Cash back payments will be made direct from Energylinx within 4-6 weeks after the customer's gas or electricity is switched onto ScottishPower. Payments will be automatically made by BACs direct to customer accounts - so everything is taken care of without any hassle.

The promotion is open only to applications who are legal residents of Great Britain and are over 16 years of age. This promotion may end at any time, so customers should act fast to avoid disappointment.

Energylinx offers customers 100% free and impartial energy comparisons. In order to find the cheapest energy deal for your home - and earn up to £50 cash back for switching to a tariff with ScottishPower, try using our online energy comparison tool by clicking here.

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Energylinx customers rank E.ON the best for May

ENERGYLINX: Customers have spoken, and the best energy supplier of May 2013 is officially E.ON Energy.

Energylinx produces feedback from its customers using an algorithm based upon four key aspects of their experiences switching domestic energy suppliers: the ease of transfer, tariff pricing, communication from the supplier and the quality of information provided. Accordingly, E.ON Energy has produced the highest rating from this month's feedback.

With a positive approval rating of 86%, Energylinx customers said they were pleased with E.ON because of the supplier's ease of transfer. Energylinx customers also said that E.ON was the best supplier for April, too - giving the supplier an approval rating of just 100%.

With an approval rating of 83%, Energylinx customers ranked ScottishPower the second best energy supplier for the month of May. Customers cited ScottishPower's communication as a major source of positive feedback. The supplier has performed consistently well in the eyes of Energylinx customers throughout 2013, as they have now rated ScottishPower the second best supplier for 3 consecutive months.

EDF Energy finished third, with a rating of 82%, which was a slight improvement on the month before. Energylinx customers did not provide substantial feedback on the performance of British Gas or SSE and its affiliated brands.

Energylinx remains 100% unbiased in its relationship between customers and their energy suppliers; however, the customer feedback with which we are provided cannot be ignored with regards to the experience new customers may have when switching suppliers. We will continue to produce a monthly list of rankings throughout 2013, and look forward to seeing whether E.ON Energy is able to maintain its place on the leader board in June.

Energylinx allows customers to instantly compare every deal on the market, and to choose tariffs for themselves based upon their individual energy needs. Click here now to find the cheapest energy deal for your home by using our 100% free and impartial comparison service.

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Business energy deals on the rise

ENERGYLINX: In 2012, the UK's SMEs wasted nearly £2 billion on inflated electricity rates - with prices for similar-sized enterprises varying by up to 220%. Yet as poor weather and increasing energy rates continue to wreak havoc upon the overheads of the UK's small businesses, several energy suppliers have stepped up to the plate in order to provide business owners with viable energy solutions. This creates a previously unheard of issue for the UK's SMEs: what's the best way to navigate these deals?

On Monday, EDF Energy introduced a business tariff that may yet be the market's most-flexible ever. The tariff - called the Freedom for Business plan - features variable rates with no fixed end date. This means that, unlike every other SME tariff on the market, business owners can switch deals anytime they want without facing huge fines. EDF also offers a number of other contracts that are based upon fixed end dates. Meanwhile, other suppliers like ScottishPower are pushing to reemphasise the importance of tailor-made energy tariffs for SMEs that cater to individual needs - such as various caveats that provide cheaper rates at evenings or weekends.

Above all else, this poses the UK's small business owners with relatively new waters concerning choice. The country's larger domestic suppliers are at long last attempting to expand upon what they're able to offer SMEs concerning viable energy options; this is only a good thing. Yet in doing so, suppliers are rapidly changing the SME energy market to a mirror-image of the UK's domestic energy market: one with so many choices that comparing tariffs to find the right energy option for your home can be laborious and confusing. It doesn't have to be.

As an SME energy comparison service, ENERGYLINX for business aims to eliminate this issue of perplexity by providing the industry's most comprehensive comparisons ever. Where the majority of other SME comparison sites are plagued with long waits and pages full of bureaucratic forms, ENERGYLINX for business provides business owners with an easy-to-use platform that will display a wide range of energy options in moments - all online.

The average SME could save an annual £1,121 just by shopping around; however, industry experts say that only 7% of small businesses bothered to shop around for better deals last year. EforB is making it their mission to reach the other 93% of small businesses who haven't compared the market in order to help them achieve a substantial savings on their energy bills.

Exactly like Energylinx, ENERGYLINX for business is 100% free for customers to use - and is also 100% impartial.

Click here to instantly compare Electricity deals for your business.

Click here to instantly compare Gas deals for your business.

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E.ON set to remove two tariffs from market

ENERGYLINX: E.ON Energy is set to remove two tariffs from the market - the Age UK Fixed Price Saver June 2013 and the E.ON Fixed Price Saver June 2013 - effective from 1 June.

The first of the two tariffs set to expire, the Age UK Fixed Price Saver June 2013, was a dual fuel or electricity-only tariff that featured fixed rates up to June 2013. It featured no standing charge and no early termination fees - and following the tariff's expiration, all Age UK Fixed Price Saver June 2013 customers should be automatically transferred onto E.ON's Standard Age UK plan, unless the supplier is told to do otherwise. It would be in the best interest of all current Age UK Fixed Price Saver June 2013 customers to ensure that this does not happen.

On average, customers who allow themselves to be moved onto E.ON's Standard Age UK plan could see their annual dual fuel energy bills increase by an average of 12.18% - or around £136.59. Regional rates vary slightly, with current Age UK Fixed Price Saver June 2013 customers living near or around Liverpool facing a potential average increase of up to £153.44.

Meanwhile, the second tariff set to expire from the market, the E.ON Fixed Price Saver June 2013, is also a fixed rate, dual fuel or electricity-only tariff. As with its Age UK equivalent, the E.ON Fixed Price Saver June 2013 featured no early termination fees or standing charges; however, its current customers will also face a similar increase in the cost of their energy bills if they allow themselves to be transferred onto E.ON's standard rate Energy Plan - which may happen automatically if they fail to notify E.ON of their desire to do otherwise.

In truth, E.ON Fixed Price Saver June 2013 customers could actually face a slightly lower rate increase than those experienced by Age UK customers; however, all E.ON Fixed Price Saver June 2013 customers who fail to act should expect a potential average increase of £135.61 per year on their duel fuel energy bills. Once more, customers who live near Liverpool may face a slightly higher rate increase following a transfer onto E.ON's standard rates, at around £151.17 per year.

As with the removal of any tariffs from the market, Energylinx would highly advise all Age UK Fixed Price Saver June 2013 and E.ON Fixed Price Saver June 2013 customers to pursue professional advice before switching tariffs; after all, there are plenty of deals on the market, and customers need not expose themselves to such a sharp price increase unnecessarily. In order to instantly compare every deal on the market and find the right tariff for your home, click here to use our 100% free and impartial online energy comparison tool now.

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nPower to remove Bill Saver May 2013 from market

ENERGYLINX: nPower is set to remove its Bill Saver May 2013 tariff from the market, effective from 31 May 2013.

The Bill Saver May 2013 was a single or dual fuel, variable rate tariff that boasted a 5% discount against nPower's standard energy rates - although customers of the Bill Saver May 2013 are currently enjoying a slightly higher average savings of 5.73%. Consequently, if current Bill Saver May 2013 customers fail to act before the tariff's expiration, they may face being instantly transferred over to nPower's standard rates - rendering a potential average increase of £68.19 per year on their energy bills.

As with the removal of any tariffs from the market, Energylinx would highly advise all Bill Saver May 2013 customers to pursue professional advice before switching tariffs; after all, there are plenty of deals on the market, and customers need not expose themselves to such a sharp price increase unnecessarily. In order to instantly compare every deal on the market and find the right tariff for your home, click here to use our 100% free and impartial online energy comparison tool now.

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British Gas removes Fixed Price June 2013

ENERGYLINX: British Gas is set to remove its Fixed Price June 2013 tariff from the market, effective from 1 June 2013.

The Fixed Price June 2013 was a dual fuel tariff that featured a standing charge and early termination fees of £35 per fuel. It was originally discounted at 2.4% below British Gas' standard rates (as of 1 February 2013); however, Fixed Price June 2013 customers are actually currently enjoying a savings of around 8.7% off British Gas' current standard rates. This news does not bode well for Fixed Price June 2013 customers, as they may be instantly transferred onto the supplier's standard tariff from 1 June - should they fail to notify British Gas of their desire to do otherwise.

At present, Fixed Price June 2013 customers are enjoying an average yearly spend of £1,162.60 per year on their energy bills - whilst the average standard rate dual fuel bill is currently hovering at £1,273.40. That means if customers fail to act prior to the expiration of their current deal, they could lose out on £110.80 per year. Regional variations of this potential increase are not significant.

As with the removal of any tariffs from the market, Energylinx would highly advise all Fixed Price June 2013 customers to pursue professional advice before switching tariffs; after all, there are plenty of deals on the market, and customers need not expose themselves to such a sharp price increase unnecessarily. In order to instantly compare every deal on the market and find the right tariff for your home, click here to use our 100% free and impartial online energy comparison tool now.

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ScottishPower launches Online Fixed Price Energy October 2014

ENERGYLINX: ScottishPower has launched a brand new tariff, the Online Fixed Price Energy October 2014.

The Online Fixed Price Energy October 2014 - which is replacing the Online Fixed Price Energy August 2014 - is an online-only tariff that features fixed rates until 30 September 2014. It is available to either dual fuel or electricity only customers, and features a standing charge. Early termination fees of £25 per fuel may apply should customers wish to switch suppliers prior to October 2014.

It's worth noting that ScottishPower customers who are currently with the supplier's equivalent standard rate tariff may take interest in the Online Fixed Price Energy October 2014 - as it could provide them with a substantial annual savings on their energy bills. At present, the average Online Fixed Price Energy October 2014 customer should expect dual fuel bills of around £1,201.05 per year - which is 5.86% cheaper than ScottishPower's standard rates.

As with the introduction of any new tariff onto the market, Energylinx would highly recommend all customers pursue professional advice before switching suppliers. In order to learn more about the Online Fixed Price Energy October 2014 - and whether it's the right deal for you - try using our 100% free and impartial energy comparison tool online now.

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Over the last 60 days, our customers have saved on average £161.26 on their gas and electricity bills!