Towards the end of 2005 & early 2006, wholesale gas prices have been increased several times, amounting in an estimated average rise of 60% for domestic energy consumers. Now, more than ever, is the time to shop around for a cheaper gas supplier.

Did you know that an average consumer can make considerable savings on gas bills compared to your local area suppliers rates, just by completing a simple change over online?

It is very easy to change energy suppliers, and should only take a few minutes of your time. Moving your supply to a new energy company is not risky, as most suppliers are National Plc's who you can trust and all of them are regulated by the government to ensure high levels of service.

When changing your gas suppliers, there will be no interruption to your supply. The same wires, pipes, and meters as you currently use will be used by your new supplier. Your new supplier will also contact your existing supplier to arrange the transfer of your supply. The only change you will notice is that your bill will come from another and it will be cheaper.

You may want to consider changing other utility services, as well. Combine your gas & electricity bills with the same company & you can make even bigger savings. Some companies even offer to package deals with telephone and mobile phone services to offer much greater overall savings.

The process of switching energy suppliers is simple, and by following the steps below you can do this quickly & painlessly online:

First find a price comparison service, which will give you all the available options online. Choose a website that is endorsed by Energy Watch if you like for added peace of mind.

Fill in your personal details, this takes around five minutes and you will then be presented with a list of possible companies in your area to change to. Generally this will be the cheapest, but you can also find out which suppliers have the best service ratings & which provide green tariffs e.t.c. Once you have decided who to switch to, sign up online, and step 1 is complete.

The details are processed and forwarded to the supplier, who will contact you to confirm the date on which your new service will commence. You will have to take a meter reading on this date, this will ensure that you are not billed twice for the same energy. You will also be asked to sign and return a form that confirms the switch - this is a legal requirement, if you do not sign, the switch will not proceed.

The whole process takes approximately 28 days, so do it now and reduce your next bill.

Norbert Wartle writes for http://www.cheapest-utility-suppliers.co.uk on issues like: Cheap Telephone & Energy Companies