Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has revealed exactly what you should ask to ensure you're getting the best deal on energy.
And in some cases, you could be rewarded with up to £300 in savings.
Appearing on This Morning today, the expert advised viewers that not all energy companies have one price.
He said in the programme's blog : "People often think energy companies have one price. They don’t. They can have lots of different tariffs. Bizarrely that means you get the same gas, same electricity, same service you just pay a different price for it.
"Most people who are with Big 6 companies are on their default standard tariffs – certainly anyone who hasn’t switched in a year usually is – and that means for someone on typical use you pay £1,178 a year currently.
"Do remember that number, because it becomes really significant."
How to take advantage of the price cuts
Typically, the cheapest tariffs around are offered by small providers, he said.
Yet as prices paid by energy firms have dropped, some larger firms are taking the opportunity to compete for new customers.
This means some have cut the prices of their cheapest tariff almost to be the market’s cheapest for those on billed meters.
Currently, British Gas is offering a deal £270 cheaper than its standard tariff.
According to Mr Lewis, the provider's dual-fuel only ‘Energy Plus Protection Dec 2020’ is a 1yr fixed-rate deal with 100% renewable electricity at £907/yr on typical usage.
And it's allowing current customers to switch to it.
"Similarly Scottish Power’s cheapest existing customer deal is also around a £280 saving, EDF is £240 and E.on £190 saving," he said.
But he warned that many of these deals aren't available if you call up and ask for them. Instead, you'll have to switch to them by using a comparison site.
Will I get a better deal if I switch firms altogether?
You don't have to switch firms to save money, but it's generally the best way to maximise savings, he said.
"The best thing is to do a comparison, then scroll down to find the cheapest company with a decent customer service reputation," he said.
"Right now that could well be the big six company that you’re with. If it is, great. If not then I’d suggest you switch to a different firm."
Many people won't take this step though, "so making sure you’re on your existing firm’s cheapest tariff is better than nothing," he said.
