Released on: July 13, 2011, 5:28 pm
Author: Confused.com
Industry: Financial
A surge in energy prices announced by British Gas within the last few days has prompted a 2000%* jump in visits to comparison site Confused.com as customers rush to save money. People are flocking to the price comparison site to find the best deals and avoid the price hikes.
Confused.com Chief Marketing Office, Mike Hoban said: "At a time when utility suppliers are reporting record profits and massive price rises, consumers are voting with their laptops and looking for the cheaper deals."
Confused.com also offers popular hints and tips on how to reduce energy used around the house, as well as an impartial comparison service which makes it easy for people to shop around and save on gas and electricity bills.
British Gas is the second of the Big 6 to announce gas and electricity price rises. Gas prices are set to increase by an average of 18%, electricity by an average of 16%, effective from 18 August 2011. This increase means around £190** will be added to the average household bill for the customers affected.
Lisa Greenfield, energy analyst at Confused.com commented on the price rises:
"Struggling households will be dismayed by this news, and as British Gas is the
largest supplier in the UK, many families will be hit hard."
Notes to Editors:
*Source: Confused.com week-on-week internal statistics
**£190 = Based on standard tariff prices at average annual consumption of 16,500 kWh
for gas and 3,300 kWh for single rate electricity, is an average across all regions
and payment methods.
About Confused.com:
Confused.com was the UK's first price comparison site for car insurance.
Confused.com is one of the biggest and most popular price comparison services.
Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded
its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include electricity prices,
home insurance, travel insurance, van
insurance, breakdown cover and to compare utilities, as well as financial services products
including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance.
Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service. By using cutting-edge technology, it has developed a series of intelligent web-based solutions that evaluate a number of risk factors to help customers with their decision-making, subsequently finding them great deals on a wide-range of insurance products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused.com's service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators.
Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock
Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.
PR contact:
Helen Beckett
Friary House
Greyfriars Road
Cardiff
CF10 3AE
029 2043 4382
www.confused.com