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MONEY COMMENT
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Firstly, I apologise to Ira Gershwin for mangling his lyrics to create the title of this article! As most of you will be aware, the clocks go forward one hour this Sunday, marking the beginning of British Summer Time. However, as Britain has been enjoying unseasonably warm weather for the last ten days, we could be forgiven for thinking summer is already upon us. These warmer months also bring a generous financial benefit with them: lower fuel bills. Of course, we use far more gas, oil and electricity during the winter months, when we run our heating for longer, use more hot water and eat more hot meals. However, this spring has a nasty sting in its tail, as gas prices could rise by around a tenth for the worst-hit users. The average annual gas bill of £300 for a typical UK household is set to increase by up to £28, according to industry analyst the Energy Contract Company. This is because high wholesale gas prices on the Continent and oil-price rises (thanks to the war in Iraq) are combining to push up UK gas prices. Three major UK gas suppliers have already raised prices in 2003, with more on the way. The 13 million customers of British Gas face a 2.5% rise, which provoked criticism from consumer group energywatch. Even worse hit are customers of Powergen, who face a 6.2% increase and TXU, which is putting up its prices by an average of 3.5%. In addition, npower customers face planned price rises of 4.3% from April. So, unless you are happy to see your gas bill rise along with your council tax and National Insurance Contributions, you need to Slash Your Household Bills. Around two-thirds of Brits have yet to switch fuel suppliers, which means that 16 million households are paying over the odds! Trust me, armed with nothing more than your last few bills, it's easy to save an average of £10 a month or more every year. All you need to do is to sign a new contract and let your fuel suppliers take care of the rest. So, to give your household bills a free spring clean, check out these easy-to-use online comparison sites: uSwitch Read more advice on switching at energywatch and industry regulator Ofgem.
Blays.co.uk/energy
buy.co.uk
Saveonyourbills
TheEnergyShop
UK Power
Unravelit