By: Eugene Sabri
Submitted: 2009-05-24 23:56:58 | Word Count: 424
Deals where a single energy company supplies you with both gas and electricity are often referred to as being 'dual fuel' deals.
Many consumers opt for this type of energy policy as the rates offered to dual fuel customers are often cheaper, and they like the convenience of having all their utilities and bills coming from the one source. This way you only have to deal with one company if you are moving home, have a complaint, or a query about your bill.
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You can switch from a dual fuel contract to separate contracts from separate suppliers, but bear in mind that you might lose out on any existing discounts if you change your arrangements with your current supplier.
Some suppliers will bill you separately for gas and electric, even if you are getting them both from the same supplier. This makes things a lot tidier if you switch suppliers, as you can keep your past gas and electric bills separate. Some suppliers do provide you with a single bill for both gas and electric, which at least keeps things simple, and this option is more suitable for those who value convenience over flexibility.
With dual fuel accounts you are welcome to pay for each fuel you use in a different way - with some consumers choosing to pay for their fairly consistent electric bills by direct debit, while paying for their less consistent gas bills by debit or credit card when the bill comes in. But paying for both with direct debit will be the cheapest way to pay.
Dual fuel policies definitely help to keep things simple, and while most companies offer dual fuel discounts, these deals are by no means always the cheapest on the market. If you are on the lookout for the most economic deal possible, then its worth checking the prices of single fuel tariffs too.
One of the drawbacks of dual fuel contracts is that if you get behind with your payments for either of your utilities, you run the risk of having them both cut off by the one company. If you find yourself in this situation, help is available as energy companies are legally required to offer support to customers who are not coping with payments. This could take the form of an extended payment plan, or by installing a prepayment meter, so it may never come to this.
