First Utility Challenges Big Six By Pledging No Price Increases This Winter
London (PRWEB UK) 4 October 2013 -- As consumers prepare to be hit with predicted price hikes from the ‘Big Six’ energy providers within the coming weeks, First Utility is bucking the trend by holding down prices and promising no increases for the whole of this winter.
The price guarantee by the UK’s largest independent energy supplier will give consumers extra peace of mind at a time when there is rising pressure on household budgets and when energy bills are at their highest.
Last month, Energyhelpline reported that the Big Six were poised to raise prices (The Telegraph 9th August 2013), as much as 10% over the next few months. This follows similar price hikes at this time of year for the last couple of years. A rise of 5-10% would add between £70 and £140 to the average dual-fuel bill across the country , so First Utility’s winter price guarantee will come as a welcome relief to homes across the UK.
The Big Six have hinted that winter bills will increase as a result of rising government obligations and network costs. As the largest independent, First Utility is also subject to energy company obligations and the same network costs as the Big Six, but is taking a stand for consumers by demonstrating that prices do not need to rise in the cold. It encourages the large suppliers to follow suit and guarantee no price increases this winter.
Ian McCaig, CEO of First Utility commented: “The rising cost of energy affects us all and many consumers will be worried about how it will impact their bills this winter. First Utility is genuinely focused on reducing energy costs for consumers and our promise to hold down prices until after the winter lessens the worry about heating their homes during the coldest months of the year.”
He adds: “Our promise will protect families from feeling the brunt of energy cost increases during the coldest months. As the largest UK independent, we believe we have a responsibility to loosen the hold the Big Six has on the UK energy market for the benefit of the hard pressed consumers and our winter price hold supports this ambition. We encourage the Big Six to follow our lead and guarantee peace of mind for worried customers this winter.”
The guarantee will ensure that all existing First Utility variable tariffs won’t see any increase in standing charge or unit rates until after the winter. First Utility currently offers the cheapest fixed rate tariffs through to 2015 and 2016 respectively along with the cheapest variable gas and electricity tariff with no-up-front costs.
For more information on First Utility and switching to the independent energy supplier, please visit First Utility’s website.
Notes to Editors:
The price guarantee applies to all variable price tariffs for winter 2013/14.
About First Utility
First Utility is the UK’s largest independent energy supplier. It supplies gas and electricity to over 190,000 residential and business customers throughout the UK. First Utility is pioneering the use of new technology within the energy sector to empower its customers to control their energy spend. It was also the first UK energy supplier to offer smart meters to all its customers in 2008. In 2012 it launched my:energy, an online analytics service which provides households and businesses with personalised information regarding their energy usage with the aim of giving customers cheap electricity and gas.
Laura Harris, First Utility, http://www.first-utility.com/, +44 207 025 7558, [email protected]
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