27 March 2009 15:09
E.ON launches ‘FixOnline' - the cheapest dual fuel energy product available

Energy company E.ON has today (FRIDAY) announced the launch of ‘FixOnline' - the cheapest dual fuel energy product available, despite other suppliers' price decreases⁽¹⁾.

FixOnline is priced to include E.ON's forthcoming 9% electricity price decrease. E.ON's electricity price decrease is effective from 31 March and will see 4.1 million customers' prices fall by an average of £41 a year⁽²⁾.

FixOnline customers can benefit from discounts of around 17%⁽³⁾ on E.ON's post-decrease standard prices, with both their discounts and prices fixed until 1 June 2010.

People who join FixOnline:

• Must pay by fixed monthly Direct Debit;
• Must manage their energy account online and receive online paperless bills which are better for the environment;
• May pay a cancellation charge of up to £30 if they move off FixOnline before 1 June 2010⁽⁴⁾.

On average, a FixOnline dual fuel customer would pay £1,035 a year, saving them £123 a year compared to the average UK offline bill⁽⁵⁾.

Jim Macdonald, Commercial Director of E.ON's Retail business, said: "We know that everyone is looking for practical ways to save money right now, and FixOnline has been developed to help them do just that.

"We're already lowering prices for over four million of our customers and have offered one of the cheapest gas prices throughout an exceptionally cold winter, so FixOnline is just more good news for E.ON customers."

FixOnline is available as a dual fuel or single electricity product, is only available online, and has limited availability.

EnergyOnline Extra Saver v13

For customers who don't want to fix their prices, E.ON recently launched the latest in its suite of EnergyOnline Extra Saver products with ‘EnergyOnline Extra Saver v13'.

Customers who sign up will receive discounts of around 14%⁽³⁾ on E.ON's standard prices, with discounts guaranteed until at least 1 August 2010.

An EnergyOnline Extra Saver v13 dual fuel customer would typically pay £1,067 which is £91 a year less than the average UK offline bill⁽⁵⁾.

EnergyOnline Extra Saver v13 customers must manage their accounts online and pay by fixed monthly Direct Debit. There is no cancellation charge with this product.

To find out more about or switch to FixOnline or EnergyOnline Extra Saver v13 please visit www.eonenergy.com.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• 1. Based on industry average consumptions of 4,000 kWh for electricity on an unrestricted meter and 18,200 kWh for gas. FixOnline is the cheapest dual fuel energy product available, even with the price decreases announced and to be effective by 31 March 2009 from British Gas, EDF, npower, ScottishPower and Scottish and Southern Energy. Based on information and competitor prices available as at 27 March 2009. Savings vary by region;
• 2. Inclusive of VAT and based on an average across paying promptly by quarterly cash or cheque and fixed monthly Direct Debit payment methods, nationally averaged, at industry average consumptions of 4,000 kWh for electricity on an unrestricted meter and 18,200 kWh for gas. Includes a £14 annual electricity discount in the Eastern, East Midlands and Norweb regions for customers not connected to mains gas;
• 3. Discounts vary by region;
• 4. The FixOnline cancellation charge is £30 for dual fuel customers or £10 for single electricity customers if they move off FixOnline before 1 June 2010;
• 5. The UK offline average annual dual fuel bill is £1,158 a year; the UK online average annual dual fuel bill is £1,072 a year. Based on information and competitor prices available as at 27 March 2009. Inclusive of VAT and based on an average across paying promptly by quarterly cash or cheque and fixed monthly Direct Debit payment methods, nationally averaged, at industry average consumptions of 4,000 kWh for electricity on an unrestricted meter and 18,200 kWh for gas.

The below comparison of online dual fuel annual bills vs other suppliers compares E.ON's FixOnline prices to other major suppliers' current acquisition products for a customer with average annual unrestricted electricity consumption of 4,000 kWh and average annual gas consumption of 18,200 kWh, paying monthly by fixed Direct Debit and managing their account online. Comparison excludes Economy 7 meters and is averaged nationally. FixOnline is not available for customers with prepayment or restricted hours meters. Comparison correct as of 27 March 2009:

• Note: Ofgem introduced the new industry average consumptions in their report ‘Quarterly Wholesale/Retail Price Report' dated February 2009;
• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas - and is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies;
• E.ON has around 5.5 million customers in the UK.

For further information please contact:

Jag Kahlon 02476 181 308

Essi Linderborg 02476 180 092

James Puxty 02476 190 685

Victoria Blake 02476 181 304