Stay Informed With HeatingSave | Page 7

Making one’s home as energy efficient as possible is something everyone should strive to achieve, especially taking into account the fact that prices for gas and electricity are going nowhere but up.

Energy customers face a winter of discontent since bills have risen between 6 per cent and 10.8% from the ‘big six’ companies over the last few months. Analysts have commented on this trend.

Winter is set to be a struggle for energy consumers as prices are going up.

Energy provider E.ON has announced it will be putting up prices next year – the last of the ‘big six’ companies to do so. The supplier told customers the hike will take effect from January 2013.

The government announced it will simplify the tariffs energy companies are able to offer consumers. Energy Secretary Ed Davey this week revealed the ‘four core tariff’ plan for gas and electricity deals.

Solar capacity in the United States of America could rise to 3.2GW by the end of 2012. The boom in renewable power generation means that the solar PV market alone has seen 44 per cent year-on-year growth in the third quarter.

A group of MPs state it is time to get tough to ensure energy customers get a better deal.

The Government has awarded £3.4 million in new funding for renewable heating systems at more than 40 social housing projects.

A new scheme called Greener Homes Innovation will encourage more fuel-efficient housing.

An MP said it was unacceptable that 20,400 householders in his constituency live in under-heated homes. Dan Jarvis confirmed that he would be raising the issue in parliament.

The Coalition’s new Energy Bill was launched at the end of last week.

The government has appeared to back-track from plans that energy firms will be impelled to give all customers the lowest tariff. However, a minister said the details had still to be worked out.