Yoursuresave Blog

The Independent Comparison Service. Save On Home & Life Insurance, Energy & Telecoms, Digital TV & Broadband. We Donate to a Food Bank run by The Trussell Trust each time you save money with an Energy Switch through our Website.

[yoursuresave]

yoursuresave.com - Excellent news for Consumers as Energy Tariff Price War Breaks

Two of the UK’s smaller independent energy suppliers have launched an energy tariff price war which looks set to engulf more of the UK’s energy providers. This can only be good news for struggling UK households.

Ovo Energy, perennially launching tariffs which undercut the ‘Big Six’, launched a marketing campaign over the Valentines weekend which was aimed at persuading people to try out the smaller suppliers.

The smaller UK suppliers tend to be cheaper and also provide better levels of customer satisfaction to boot.

After the price increases of late last year, hundreds of thousands of customers fled the main UK suppliers for the smaller independents.

Just recently Ovo Energy launched a tariff, Cheaper Energy Fixed, which could slash around a quarter off an old or a 'Big Six' standard tariff.

Mark Todd, director of price comparison website energyhelpline.com, said:

"These new deals have created a massive gulf between them and the big supplier's standard prices, which most consumers pay."

"The smaller suppliers are sending warning signals to the ‘Big Six' stating that they are not to be underestimated and are well and truly a force to be reckoned with,"

"Consumers need to step back and ask themselves where they stand on standard prices."

Now, refusing to take the challenge lying down, First Utility, another UK energy giant-slayer, has hit back with its own price-busting tariff, iSave Fixed v20, which matches, or even undercuts Ovo Energy’s own winning tariff, bringing fantastic savings.

For instance, a UK household in the North West, spending around £1,290 on their Gas & Electricity annually and moving from a Standard tariff, can expect to see their annual energy spend drop below £1,000, a massive saving. Other regions too will see a similar huge saving.

To investigate these tariffs further visit www.yoursuresave.com now to see how much you can save. And don’t forget that we donate to a Food Bank run by the Trussell Trust each time anyone saves money with an energy switch via our site

.

Compare both their tariffs now at www.yoursuresave.com 

[yoursuresave]

Some Liverpool Customers Paying £30 a month too much for Gas & Electricity

Smaller energy suppliers provide a higher level of customer satisfaction according to a survey by Which? magazine.

Plus they can be as much as 23% cheaper than the standard tariffs of the Big Six energy suppliers.

For instance, a customer in the L1 postcode of Liverpool, with Scottish Power and British Gas providing their Electricity & Gas via their Standard Tariffs and spending £800 on each, will save a massive 23% or £361 a year moving to a cheaper tariff with yoursuresave.com.

*See for Yourself (example only) 

Taking advantage of this saving is the equivalent of:

£30 each month extra into your bank account, or

three months free Gas & Electricity a year, or

someone giving you a iPad Air WiFi model after twelve months, or

a free return flight to JFK in twelve months time.

Or looking at it another way, by not taking advantage of the cheaper tariff, imagine:

taking a £30 a month pay cut, or

a £30 a month tax on your monthly food shop, or

your mobile phone provider adding a £30 a month charge, or

giving £30 a month to your neighbour to pay for their Gas and Electricity

Yes, if you haven't switched before then you could be paying a massive £361 a year more than your neighbour who regularly shops around for cheaper Gas and Electricity.

So, don’t sit on an old energy tariff. Your supplier is using the extra money that you are paying for your Gas and Electricity to fund the cheaper tariffs, which they then use to entice new customers.

Wouldn't you rather be one of the new customers?

Switch now with www.yoursuresave.com and put some extra money in your pocket.

[yoursuresave]

What is Energy Switching and What happens when you Switch?

What is Energy Switching?

Energy Switching is simply using a comparison service, such as our own, to compare the tariffs of all the energy suppliers in the UK. This is a quick and efficient way of finding the lowest tariffs available.

What happens when you Switch?

The Switching process isn't complicated. In fact, if you have your fuel bills to hand it can be done in just a few minutes and the savings can be great.

For some, who haven’t switched before, the savings can be as much as 25% or more, or the equivalent of having 3 months free Gas or Electricity.

After you have chosen your new tariff and submitted your request to switch from our website, all the admin work takes place between your new and your old supplier. This can take 3 - 6 weeks.

How will you know when your Switch has been Completed?

When your switch has been processed you should receive a Welcome Pack from your new supplier, who should also visit you to obtain your first meter reading. This means your switch has been completed!

At this stage you should cancel any direct debits you have with your old supplier (they can’t do this for you) and they will send you a final bill.

Things you should be aware of.

Some tariffs carry exit fees if you leave before the end of the tariff term.  Double check!

If you know when the end of your tariff term is, then it’s wise to begin the switching process around 4 - 5 weeks before the end date.

The vast majority of prepayment customers can switch at any time. Ovo and Utilita tariffs come with exit fees. The rest do not.

From our own records less than 1% of switches are rejected. It pays to double-check the information you are entering.

Look out for cash back offers which can boost the savings on any switch.

Do not sit on an old energy tariff by not switching. Suppliers use the extra money you are paying by sitting on an old tariff to fund new, cheaper energy tariffs, which they use to attract new customers.  Ensure you are one of the new customers by shopping around regularly for better energy deals.

If you have any further questions then contact us on:

Twitter - @yoursuresave

Facebook - www.facebook.com/suresaveltd

Email - [email protected]

Telephone - 01515150808

Remember, our switching service is Ofgem approved and conforms to the Consumer Confidence Code.

We are independent and have no commercial deals with any of the suppliers that we list in our comparison results, thus maintaining our independence and ensuring that you receive an unbiased set of results Every Time!

www.yoursuresave.com/energy 

[awkwardsituationist]

"well, i don’t know what will happen now. we’ve got some difficult days ahead. but it really doesn’t matter with me now, because i’ve been to the mountaintop. …like anybody, i would like to live a long life. but I’m not concerned about that now. …i’ve seen the promised land. i may not get there with you. but i want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land."

king delivered these words at mason temple in memphis, tennessee the very night before his assassination. he was in memphis to support 1300 striking sanitation workers, largely african american, who were protesting difficult working conditions, poverty level wages and the refusal of the city to recognize their union.

although jim crow was now technically abolished, it was still very difficult for african americans to find work in the south, and for many in memphis collecting garbage was the only job they could get. but work was hard and unsafe. workers would come home with clothes saturated with filthy water and crawling with maggots. and when it rained, workers could only seek refuge in the back of their compressor trucks.

this would lead to the death of echol cole and robert walker, who were accidentally crushed during a storm. their deaths would precipitate the strike. as one striker, taylor rogers, later recalled, “if you bend your back, people will ride your back. but if you stand up straight, people can’t ride your back. so that’s what we did. we stood up straight and said, ‘I AM A MAN’.”

and so king, despite the wishes of some confidants, went to memphis in the midst of his poor people’s campaign to stand with the sanitation workers. as he said the night before his death, “we’ve got to march and force everybody to see that there are thirteen hundred of god’s children here suffering.”

because, as king famously said, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” be it political or racial or economic injustice. the promised land was not only a voting rights act or a civil rights act. it was also the right to organize (including public sector employees), a living wage, and basic decency.

and as king said, “if you haven’t found something in life that you’re willing to die for, you’ve not yet lived.” though he didn’t live to see it, the strike eventually ended with union recognition from the city and raises for the workers, but not before king’s now widowed wife, coretta scott king, defied the threats to her own life and marched in her late husband’s place on april 8.

photos by (click pic) jack thornell, richard l. copley, charlie kelly and sam melhorn.

[yoursuresave]

Prepayment Energy Meters - A Quick Guide

How does Prepayment work?

Gas and Electricity prepayment meters work in the same way as a ‘pay as you go’ mobile phones.  You pay using a meter card or token, which you add funds to using an electronic terminal, which might be based at your local grocery store or newsagent.

You can also top up at any Post Office and some suppliers such as British Gas, Scottish Power and Utilita even allow you to top up from the comfort of your own home, using a laptop, PC or even your mobile phone via a text message.

The alternative to a Prepayment meter is a Credit or Post-Pay meter. With this type of meter, you use your Gas and Electricity first and then pay when your supplier sends you a bill telling you how much you have used. This could be every month or every quarter.

Some Prepayment Myths

False: You can’t switch tariffs on a Prepayment meter.

True: You can switch on Prepayment as long as you have debt of less than £500.

You don’t have a huge choice to choose from but you do have options. There are always alternative tariffs, some for instance, allow you to fix your energy prices for twelve months - i.e protected from price rises. Plus, most Prepayment tariffs don’t come with exit fees so you’re completely free to switch to that cheaper tariff.

False: Prepayment is always the most expensive way to pay for your Gas & Electricity

True: Gas & Electricity on Prepayment is similar in cost to Standard tariffs on Post-Pay meters. Post-Pay customers are not guaranteed a better deal if they don’t shop around regularly. Our own figures show that some of our customers are saving almost £500 a year and these are on Prepayment.

False: Paying by Prepayment is a hassle.

True: This is not necessarily true.

You could pay by direct debit but a lot of customers choose not to. If a direct debit gets returned then the associated bank charge could wipe out a big party of any savings, so not choosing this way to pay is perfectly understandable.

Scottish Power and British Gas allow you to top up from your laptop or PC, which is a great option to have if you live some way from your top-up agent, have mobility issues or if your agent’s terminal is unreliable. Utilita even allows you to top up using your mobile phone, via a text message.

False: Suppliers charge different amounts for Prepayment and Post Pay customers.

True: Not completely true. Ecotricity matches its Prepay prices to those of your regional Standard tariff. EBICO just has the one flat rate regardless of which of their tariffs you are on.

False: Once I am on Prepayment then I am stuck on Prepayment

True: This is not true.

Most suppliers will move you onto Post-Pay for a fee, so you can take advantage of their cheaper tariffs, meaning that despite the fee, you’ll be saving money in the long run by paying for cheaper Gas & Electricity.

British Gas will change the meter for free but will perform a credit check . However, EDF and NPower will charge a fee but will not perform a credit check.

Moving off Prepayment

There are other options. Your supplier might be reluctant to send an engineer out to replace your Prepayment meter, however, if you tell them that you will stay with them as a customer if they do then they might be more willing to change your meter for you for free.

Alternatively, you could approach a new supplier and tell them you would like to become a customer of theirs but only if they would replace the Prepayment meter. The new supplier might be keen to replace your meter for you if it means they are gaining a new customer.

If you are planning to move off Prepayment and you have a medical condition such as mobility issues then make sure your supplier is aware of this. The fee might then be waived.

Remember, regardless of whether you are on Prepayment or not it is important to shop around regularly in order to make sure you see the best tariffs available.

If you don’t, then you are effectively paying up to 25 per cent extra for your Gas & Electricity and your supplier uses this extra money from you to fund cheaper tariffs for new customers.  

Wouldn't you rather just be one of the new customers?

Visit www.yoursuresave.com now.  

Unlike other comparison sites we are independent and compare all suppliers and their tariffs

A list of Prepayment Tariffs that you can switch away from without incurring exit fees.

British Gas    Standard

Co-operative Energy    Pioneer

E.ON    Energyplan with Prepayment

Ebico    EquiDual

Ecotricity    Green Electricity+Green Gas

EDF Energy    Standard Variable

first:utility    iSave Everyday Pre-Pay v3

Good Energy    Prepayment

LoCO2    Energy Prepayment

npower    Standard

Ovo Energy    PAYG £30 / fuel before 12 months. Free after.

Scottish Power    Standard

Southern Electric    Standard

Spark Energy    PAYG Saver

SSE    Standard

Swalec Standard    PAYG

Utility Warehouse    Value

Switch now with www.yoursuresave.com

[yoursuresave]

Price Rise Warning: - 300,000 Customers at Risk From Price Rises as their Current Tariff Ends

It is estimated that around 300,000 energy customers are in danger of a massive jump in their energy costs as their fixed term energy tariffs come to an end.

The tariffs, from a wide range of suppliers, are all ending in the next few weeks and energy suppliers, in most cases, will roll their customers over to a new tariff, which will more than likely, not be the cheapest one that they have available.

Some customers will see a jump in £186 in their energy cost or around £15 a month.

“Mark Todd, director of energyhelpline, commented, "It’s almost unheard of to have so many fixed and discount rate tariffs ending all around the same time.

“By our estimates about 300,000 households will lose their cheap rates at the end of this month. These fixed rate tariffs got customers through two or three winters without a price rise.

“Now these tariffs are ending customers will be hit by hikes of up to £183 a year if they don’t switch, as they are put back on expensive standard rates by their suppliers.

The final six weeks of their current term is the ideal time to switch because it gives their old and news suppliers ample time to conduct the switch over and they will not incur any exit fees and their old supplier has to hold their prices until the switch has been completed.

British Gas - Fix & Fall March 2014

British Gas - Price Promise April 2014

E-On - Price Protection April 2014

E-On - Age UK Fixed Price April 2014

E-On - Fixed Price April 2014

EDF - Fixed Price 2014

NPower - Price Protector March 2014

Scottish Power - Fixed Price Energy April 2014

Scottish Power - Online Fixed Price Energy April 2014

Customers on one of the above tariffs should switch now using an independent comparison service such as yoursuresave.com in order to avoid being rolled over to an expensive tariff.  

An independent comparison service will compare ALL the UK supplier’s tariffs and recommend one over the other.

Results on yoursuresave.com can be ordered by price or service rating.

If you are on one of the above tariffs then Switch Now to avoid being rolled over.

[yoursuresave]

Guaranteed Acceptance Life Cover with No awkward medical questions

We have the right Life Cover for You.

You can choose the amount of the premium that you would like to pay each month.  You can even decide how much you would like to leave behind.

With guaranteed acceptance you can get cover starting from today, with no awkward medical questions to answer.

You have the security of knowing that the amount of your premium will not change throughout the duration of the policy.

Your acceptance is guaranteed if you are from 50 - 80 years of age, a UK resident and have not exceeded the premium.

Please be aware that if your cover stops, you will not receive any money back.

We work with the most Respected and Established Insurers in the UK

Our Life Insurance is quality assured because we work with a panel of the world’s leading, long term insurers, with hundreds of years of experience looking after people just like you and your family.

We work with a panel of insurers that you can trust.

Require Assistance?

Our expert advisers are there to help every step of the way, so if you have any questions or worries then please contact us, we’ll be only too pleased to help you complete your application.

You application can be completed in minutes and your cover will start the very same day, giving you peace of mind that your family is safely protected for the future.

Guaranteed life insurance No Medical Questions

[yoursuresave]

Can You Help Someone with an Energy Switch? Now it's Easier than Ever.

Switching Energy suppliers used to be a laborious process. With so many suppliers and so many tariffs available, the mere idea of looking for the lowest rate tariff out there was mind-numbing to say the least.

The complicated process of finding a cheaper supplier is one of the reasons cited for the large amount of households (around 85%) not shopping around regularly for a better value energy supplier.

Plus, with so few switching, Energy Suppliers were making hundreds of millions of pounds in extra profit each and every year because their customers were languishing on the most expensive tariffs that they had available.

Cue the rise in Fuel Poverty and Food Poverty that so many families are now enduring.

However, before April 2014, new Ofgem rules on switching will have to be implemented, with some suppliers like Ovo Energy, having already done so.

The new rules state that energy suppliers must drastically reduce the amount of tariffs they have available, to just four for each fuel, meaning it will now be easier than ever to find a lower rate tariff.

Bills will be clearer and customers get advance notice of when their tariff is about to end.

So, with these new rules, saving money on Gas & Electricity should be easier than ever.

If you know an older relative or neighbour, for whom the extra money from an energy switch could make a big difference, help them by visiting yoursuresave.com and showing them a list of the best value tariffs available.

Remember, we donate to The Big Help Project each and every time a customer saves money with an Energy Switch via our website.

Read more at our dedicated page at www.yoursuresave.com/big-help-project 

[yoursuresave]

Extra Energy - The UK’s New Winning Energy Provider

The new Entrant to the UK Energy Market promises to undercut even the current champion, Ovo Energy, offering a huge 26% saving* on a Standard energy tariff.

Extra Energy is able to offer this massive saving to its customers because it is an online only tariff - so the money it saves by not printing and sending out paper bills is passed directly to its customers in the form of cheaper energy rates.

Switch to Extra Energy with yoursuresave.com today and enjoy the lowest energy costs in the land and keep those low prices right up until September 2015, avoiding any price rises right up until then.

So when others are suffering energy price rises, your rates will stay put for the next 18 months!

Plus, with each Energy Switch which takes place via our website we donate on your behalf to a food bank run by the Trussell Trust, which works to help vulnerable families across the UK.

Switch Today and begin saving Straight Away!

*Figures based on annual usage of £800 for gas and £653 for electricity in the B13 8HW postcode for a customer switching from a Standard tariff.

[yoursuresave]

Is your energy account in credit? How do you go about claiming the money back?

Paying your Gas & Electricity bills by Direct Debit is the best way to pay. However, some energy suppliers have a policy of taking more for what you use in the Summer months, as a way of building up credit in for higher Winter bills.

This might seem like a good idea in practice but customers are often shocked to find that their Direct Debit will suddenly take a hike upward leaving them with less in the bank, or even sending them overdrawn or incurring charges on their bank account.

The ‘Big Six’ UK suppliers have come under fire recently for profiting on the interest that customer’s credit accrues, to the tune of millions every year. This is set to change, but we feel that this is not enough.

Now, it has been announced that if you find your account is in credit by more than £5, the energy companies will now refund this credit back into your account annually, with accounts reviewed every six months.

This means that your supplier could have your excess credit in their accounts for up to a year, money that would be better off in your own account.

How to find out if your account is in credit.

Check your latest meter readings are not estimates. You can usually tell by a bold letter E next to the reading.

If this is an estimate then check it against the current reading on your meter. Your supplier might have overestimated the amount of gas or electricity that you are using, meaning that you’re paying more than you should.

If this has happened a few times it’s possible that you may be owed £100s (by law, they can not estimate your bills more than three times).

To be sure of accurate bills make sure your supplier receives a meter reading at least once a month. If you have an online account you can enter your meter reading online.  

Otherwise some energy suppliers such as First Utility and British Gas tariffs with EnergySmart give very accurate meter readings ensuring you only ever pay for what you use. Ask us about these tariffs.

If you believe that you have overpaid then ask for a refund. Depending on the policy of the supplier one should be forthcoming. If one is not forthcoming then ask to make a complaint.

Now is the time of year when energy use will be declining for the Summer so there is no real reason for energy suppliers to be taking more than they require.

 www.yoursuresave.com

[yoursuresave]

Ovo Energy UK TV Ad Campaign

Ovo Energy wants you to break up - with your current energy supplier.

On Valentines Day 2014, the up and coming UK energy supplier launched its first TV ad campaign aimed at persuading people to let go of the unhappy relationship they have with their current energy supplier and run off with a young, fresh, alternative that has its customers’ best interests at heart.

See one of the new ads here - Feel Loved Again

Ovo Energy has, for a long time, been toe to toe with the UK ‘Big Six’ energy providers, aggressively accusing them of putting shareholders’ profit above anything else and this has certainly resonated with UK energy customers.

This tactic has led to Ovo Energy winning over energy customers’ hearts, with recent statistics showing that 350,000 customers left the ‘Big Six’ energy suppliers in the last two months alone.

Now, with British Gas and the other main UK energy suppliers in the firing line under accusations of excessive profiteering, Ovo Energy, with their new marketing campaign, is set to be perfectly placed to win even more UK energy customers over.

Along with their gorgeous website revamp and savvy Social Media and print ad campaigns, this looks to be a huge year for Ovo Energy.

Some Facts about Ovo Energy

Ovo began operating in 2009 and is based in Bristol

Their tariffs can save a massive 21% on a dual fuel tariff if you haven’t switched before

All their tariffs fix your rates for at least 12 months

Ovo’s tariffs come with either 15% or 100% energy from renewable energy sources

They have won ‘Best Energy Supplier’ in the Which? magazine consumer survey and are currently rated well above average.

They consistently offer some of the cheapest energy tariffs in the UK

Ovo already complies with the latest Ofgem rules on tariff simplicity, offering just six simple tariffs.

yoursuresave.com searches all the UK energy providers and their tariffs and Ovo Energy consistently offers the cheapest energy tariffs available and they consistently rate highly for customer satisfaction.

Switch with us and you will automatically be helping vulnerable families because with each switch we donate on your behalf to The Big Help Project.

Switch Now

Ovo Energy has just Six Tariffs to Compare

Better Energy Fixed

Full Email and Telephone Support

15% energy from Renewable Sources

Fix Prices for 12 Months

Better Energy (Fixed to June 2016)

Full Email and Telephone Support

15% energy from Renewable Sources

Fix Prices up until June 2016

Cheaper Energy Fixed

Manage your Account Online for a £60 Discount

15% energy from Renewable Sources

Fix Prices for 12 Months

Cheaper Energy (Fixed to June 2016)

Manage your Account Online for a £60 Discount

15% energy from Renewable Sources

Fix Prices up until June 2016

Greener Energy Fixed

Full Email and Telephone Support

100% Renewable Energy

Fix Prices for 12 Months

Greener Energy Fixed (Online)

Manage your Account Online for a £60 Discount

100% Renewable Energy

Fix Prices up until June 2016

Switch to Ovo Energy with us and we make a donation to a Food Bank run by The Trussell Trust on your behalf - helping vulnerable families in the UK

[staff]

Last month Tumblr took a decisive step toward transparency, and today we’re asking that our government do the same. We’re standing with our colleagues from across the web to demand transparency and accountability around laws concerning privacy.

Today is “The Day We Fight Back” against unfettered surveillance. We hope you’ll join us. 

[tastefullyoffensive]

How October Jones Passes Time on the Train

Related: Subway Snapchat Art

[yoursuresave]

The Big Help Project and yoursuresave.com

In 2011 Knowsley Food bank opened its doors to distribute food to individuals and families struggling to sustain themselves. It began with just one full-time member of staff, a few volunteers and two distribution centres

Today in the UK, it is 2014 and we have families in one of the most dynamic countries in the world, with the fourth largest defence budget and with a growing economy, depending on handouts from strangers. 

What happened to the social services and the ‘welfare net’ that is supposed to look after those in need?

With those on benefits, even temporarily, under a constant threat of having them removed or suspended for the slightest reason, it is inevitable that many people will find themselves in the unenviable situation of having to seek out charities and other sources of help.

The Knowsley Foodbank is one such source.  It distributed eight tonnes of food from seven distribution centres in 2013 and the service is, unfortunately, in greater demand and depending on greater contributions.

yoursuresave.com has been aware for a long time that many families right across the UK are having to choose between eating and heating their homes.  How can the parents of a young family possibly choose whether to keep their young ones fed or warm? A hard decision to make.

With energy bills rising at a rate far, far quicker than the rate of inflation and many workers on a wage freeze, the economic outlook for many families looks set to worsen.

In 2014 yoursuresave.com decided to collaborate with The Big Help Project because with both fuel and food poverty being common themes in the current economic climate, we decided that we wanted to help and also make it easier for you to help too.

Visit our dedicated page for more information and help us to support The Big Help Project

Yoursuresave and The Big Help Project

Follow us on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/yoursuresave

www.facebook.com/theBigHelpproject

[yoursuresave]

Good Energy Shines in Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Sun Shines for Good Energy

Renewable Energy supplier Good Energy, based in Chippenham, has been awarded top marks by consumer at consumer campaigner magazine Which?, earning joint top place with Gloucester firm Ecotricity.

The green energy supplier, one of the smaller UK energy providers, achieved top marks in each of the five categories of Views on Service, Value for Money, Accuracy and Clarity of Bills, Complaints and Energy Saving - scoring a commendable 82%.

Juliet Davenport OBE Chief and founder of Good Energy explained -

“We’re obviously over the moon with this news as it shows how consistent we’ve been at delivering good customer service having been top over the last three years. This is good news for us, but more importantly, for our customers.

“It is also great to see that we’re sharing first place with another independent green energy provider, demonstrating that it is possible to be small and still deliver green energy and an excellent customer experience.”

“She said one of the big reasons why customers were loathe to switch providers was that they thought all energy companies are the same. This survey proves that this isn't necessarily the case,” she said.

“It also demonstrates the value of having real competition in the energy market and shows there’s a place for smaller players. It’s the smaller companies like us who are leading the way!

Read more at Swindon Business News -  at http://goo.gl/zfHs6v

St Valentine’s Bundle - Lamp and Mouse Gift Set

It’s that time of year again and you’re wondering whether a meal and night out is what your other half might be looking forward to. 

However, this heart shaped Lamp & Mouse Gift bundle will last a lot longer and will remind you of your loved one each time you click and the lamp will highlight your laptop keys when you want to Tweet your love messages.

Under £20 at various outlets - http://goo.gl/ngyAlf

Npower claims high bills result of 'old and draughty' homes

Npower chief, Paul Massara has stated in his supplier’s latest energy report that a large proportion of British homes are poorly insulated.

He stated that unless energy customers can reduce their energy usage and bills by insulating their homes then the cost up upgrading the country’s energy infrastructure, which is to be paid for by increased charges, will result in a net increase in energy bills.

Npower previously predicted that domestic energy bills would rise by £240 by 2020 as a result of increased network infrastructure investment. 

However, regulator Ofgem contradicted this with it’s own figures which predicted that network charges would remain flat over this time.

Read more at Northern Echo - http://goo.gl/UgmAaL

Japan Solar Power Boom

Japan has cemented its positions as one of the world’s largest and fastest growing solar PV markets after an increase of 4GW of power became available in 2013, bringing its total to over 11GW.

"Photovoltaic power facilities steadily continue to be introduced, and the total combined capacity of such facilities as of October 31, 2013, reached 5,852,000 kW after the feed-in tariff scheme was introduced," the ministry stated.

Read more here: http://goo.gl/fM8jNY

[yoursuresave]

5 Energy Saving Gadgets for under £20

It needn't cost the earth to save energy.  A small investment in any of these featured gadgets will pay off in the long run. After all, saving energy automatically saves you money.

1 Remote Controlled Power Sockets, Pack of 3

Leaving appliances on standby uses unnecessary power but sometimes reaching behind the TV / Media / Hi-Fi cabinet can be pain. These remote control sockets will allow you to easily turn off the power to your TV / DVD / Console without having to reach down into the awkward location of your socket. There is even a convenient one button to switch off all sockets.

Save energy, money and reduce your carbon footprint with these remote control power sockets. Your appliance will last longer too!

A three pack for under £20.  http://goo.gl/RV08f8

2. Ecobutton Halo

This plugs into the USB port of your PC / Laptop and with the press of a button, activates sleep mode. This saves energy which means it also saves you money, at the press of a button.

The award winning eco button is just £9.99 but will save you £100s a year, especially if you’re in the habit of leaving your PC on overnight.

www.ecobutton.com - £9.99

3. LED Eco Acrylic Desk Lamp

Using high quality LED lights, if used three hours a day, this lamp is good for 50 years. It also doubles as a pen and memo pad holder.

Due to the exclusive transparent design, the lamp can hold a memo-pad with pen holder (pen not included). And the base of the lamp can also be turned into a chic blue night-light by simply using the touch sensitive button that can also be used to turn the lamp on and off.

From £15.99 

http://goo.gl/fo0cQN

4. Heatkeeper Energy Saving Radiator Panel

HeatKeeper insulation Radiator Panels will significantly reduce the heat loss through external walls and directing the heat from your radiators evenly back into the room.

This is achieved by creating an air curtain that rises above the radiator minimising the loss of heat energy produced. Get a six pack for under £20.

http://goo.gl/6sBkly

5. H2O Water Powered Shower Radio

Shower radios are becoming more popular but have the disadvantage of having to use batteries.

However, this clever radio harnesses the power of the water from your shower. No more batteries. No recharging. Just News, Sport and Weather when you shower.  Simple to install and cheap too. From as little as £13.

www.waterpowerradio.com

Switching to a cheaper energy tariff is still one of the easiest ways in which to save money and the process can be done in minutes.

www.yoursuresave.com searches all UK suppliers and tariffs to find you the best deals.

[yoursuresave]

TalkTalk offers free landline privacy features

In its continued battle against nuisance calls, Talk Talk is offering even more privacy features, including Anonymous Caller Reject, completely free to customers using its home phone service.

TalkTalk has announced it will be the first ISP to make all its landline privacy features completely free. The move is part of the network's ongoing campaign to stamp out nuisance calls in the UK.

Research from consumer support group Which? states that one third of Britains feel intimidated by cold calls, and over half have been discouraged from picking up the landline at all.

To make its users feel more comfortable answering their home phone, TalkTalk is offering its Anonymous Caller Reject service completely free. This means anyone who tries to call the user from a withheld number will hear only a busy tone, while the customer's phone won't even ring. This service is available on other networks, however it can cost up to £4.00 a month depending on your provider.

TalkTalk can now also add a Last Caller Barring service to its customer's talk plan completely free. This will allow users to block the last number that called their landline, preventing them from calling again.

Dido Harding, TalkTalk CEO, said:

"Nuisance and unwanted calls are a huge source of stress and frustration. We don't believe that people should be charged for the privilege of protecting their privacy.

"Our customers can now benefit from even more free features to help them avoid nuisance calls, helping to make TalkTalk homes even better off."

Visit www.yoursuresave.com to see some great deals from Talk Talk.