Energy providers are all competing aggressively with one another to reduce gas prices in order to entice customers to use their services rather than their rivals. In the midst of the most challenging economic climate the global economy has faced for four decades, trying to secure the best deals on your gas supply is a smart and sensible thing to do.

One of the best ways to secure a low price on your gas and electricity, that represents real value for money, is to switch your provider. With so many attractive offers competing for your attention it can be extremely confusing to decide which supplier offers the best deal for you. One of the most obvious things to look at is the price of gas supplied by a given company. However, prices can be misleading, as different companies will present their figures in different formats in order to give the impression of cheaper energy.

For example, some gas providers will quote a low base rate for energy, whilst others might quote a relatively high base rate which can be heavily discounted. Wading through the plethora of enticing ads and gimmicks can be extremely draining and confounding. Price comparison websites can take some of the pain away from the process, creating a platform which can compare offers on a like-for-like basis giving you simple and easily digestible information.

There are excellent deals to be had for gas and electricity. Taking advantage of special introductory deals, online discounts, and fixed-rate deals can also offer lower prices. Online discounts in particular can grant anything from a 5 to 15 per cent discount, whereas introductory offers can offer attractive discounts for a limited period of time.

There is no simple answer to the question: 'When is the best time to switch?' In general, if you have never switched utility companies to get cheaper <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/gas-and-electricity-guide">gas</a>, or if you have stayed with the same provider for more than 12 months, then you can almost certainly find a better deal elsewhere. Beware though. Switching too often can prove costly, especially if you buy into fixed-rate deals in order to secure promotional discounts, so read the contract carefully before deciding to change providers.

About the Author:

Olivia has 2 years experience writing articles about gas. She also enjoys writing on various other topics.