FAILING to switch energy supplier may have cost 39,000 households in Hillingdon more than £1,500 each over the past six years, figures reveal.

 It’s the equivalent of more than half a year of the UK’s average weekly shopping trips.

Only 14% of people in London switched in the last year and missed out on savings of hundreds of pounds a year.

Starting today, Big Energy Saving Week is a national campaign from the Energy Saving Trust, Citizens Advice and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which helps households lower their annual spend on energy.

Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: “The difference between the average Standard Variable Tariff and the cheapest deal on the market is significant, but millions of households still aren’t accessing these savings.

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“To put that into context, switching this year could save you up to £300 – equivalent to more than a month’s worth of food shopping.

“In other words, if you haven’t switched for six years you’ve missed out on more than six months’ of food shopping.

“With January being a tight month for household budgets, now is the time to look at switching your energy tariff to make sure you’re on the best possible deal.”

An online price comparison tool from Citizens Advice can help bill payers find a cheaper supplier.

The comparison tool is impartial and includes quotes from all energy suppliers.