Until 1996, British Gas had the monopoly on gas supply in the UK. When competition was allowed in the market, it was believed that gas prices would come down for the ordinary consumer.

ever, many people don’t change from their current gas supplier, as they think that switching provider will be problematic.

This is even though the fact that switching your electricity or gas supplier can cut your bills - which is particularly helpful during a recession.

It also doesn’t have to be hard to change your provider. Rather than tracking down all the suppliers that operate in your area and get in touch with them to see if they can lower your costs, you can use a price comparison site.

You may even be able to switch gas supplier on the site itself. Of course, there are other considerations to consider in addition to price when choosing a gas supplier.

You can check out their reputation for customer service - some comparison sites allow you to review suppliers, so you can see how other consumers have rated each company before you move.

Another thing to examine is the different payment plans that the suppliers offer. You could save money straight away by switching to an Internet plan. If you are confident you can manage your account and receive all your bills online, this could cut down on administration fees.

For those on a low income, you may be eligible for a social payment plan. Energy companies have to provide these payment plans, which are designed to help people in the most difficult positions to pay their bills.

For sheer simplicity, you may select a fixed plan. This means the cost of each unit of energy is fixed for a certain period. Alternatively, a capped plan means that the price of each unit won’t go up over a set length of time. However, if gas prices fall your energy bills could come down.

Suppliers will also provide their own standard pricing plans. Your choice of supplier will of course be influenced by the plans that are available - and the one that is best for you.

That is why price comparison sites will always ask you for your current payment plan and the one you would prefer. You can compare the different tariffs quickly and easily to see which can save you the most. You can make great savings by switching your gas supplier.