Four million Brits switch supplier

Over four million Britons switched their energy supplier in 2006, new figures indicate.

The energy regulator Ofgem said that 750,000 more people changed suppliers last year than in 2005, with annual bills cut by an average of £150.

British Gas was one of the firms hardest hit, with the company's market share falling below half for the first time, while Scottish & Southern Energy welcomed 800,000 new customers in the first six months of 2006, according to the Guardian.

"Energy customers have given expensive suppliers the boot with over four million moving to a cheaper supplier in the first ten months of 2006," Alistair Buchanan, Ofgem's chief executive said.

"Our competitive energy markets have attracted over £10 billion of investment in gas importation projects which are now beginning to take the heat out of wholesale gas prices," he added.

Ofgem predicts energy bills to fall further this year.