Those gas and electricity customers keen to watch over their energy bills are being urged to compare deals now and switch if necessary.

The warning comes from an energy choices comparison website and follows EDF’s recent price hike. It warns that energy bills will rise and that now is the time, for those buying gas and electricity, to shop around for the best deal.

The website also warns that further energy price rises are around the corner and it’s time for the consumer to protect their interests and be proactive in their choices.

They stress that now is the ideal time to make the decision, especially now that the summer months are gone, the nights are drawing in and the autumn and winter seasons are upon the country.

Once the colder weather kicks in says the website, it will be harder to make the necessary decisions as the market prices can move on supply and demand. And now that prices are decided on a pan-European and northern hemisphere basis, once the cold weather is here, there is more chance of hikes nearer the end of the year.

The website focuses on EDF Energy, buts says that all the energy companies will be jockeying for position as the year progresses. EDF Energy is one of the UK’s six biggest energy suppliers and has just announced price rises to its electricity tariffs of nearly 3% on average.

EDF Energy defended its rises by saying that it has to absorb a 16% increase in not only its transmissions costs, but also a similar rise in the cost of distribution – all since last March.

Commercial manager at EnergyChoice, Chris Eagle, believes that this recent rise from EDF Energy is a sign of the times and that there is more to come. He said:
“EDF has become the latest big energy company to put up its prices but it will not be the last. You should regularly compare all the different energy tariffs on the market and check whether you would be better off switching to a new energy deal.

“Doing nothing is the worst thing you can do. Visit Energychoices.co.uk now to see how much you might save by switching to a cheaper energy tariff.”

Energy bills will rise throughout the remainder of the year and also likely throughout 2011, so perhaps now is the best time to shop around for gas and electricity.

Guest Article by Neil Camp