Right now, gas and electricity prices are fairly static, and there hasn't been a large price hike in a while. However, a worrying trend has started in the second half of 2010 - we're seeing more and more of the cheapest online tariffs being dropped by energy companies, which means if you don't get onto a cheaper tariff quickly, you'll likely be missing out on some really good deals on energy prices simply because you waited too long to switch.

This is a great time to compare energy because right now, online rules. While standard tariffs haven't seen any cuts in price online deals over the last year have been getting better and better, providing you opt for online only billing and direct debit, you can save up to £200 a year just by moving away from your current provider. Obviously, online billing isn't for everyone, but if you've got constant access to the internet and don't mind doing a bit of research first, it's worth thinking about.

Plus the great thing about switching over your energy supplier is there's virtually no effort involved. No matter who you use for your gas and electricity, or even if you use two different providers for each, the only changes from a customer perspective are the price and the customer service. Everything else is dealt with by the companies themselves, so switching over doesn't mean having an electrician come to your house or your meter changed.

Using a comparison site for energy is easy, and if you've got your bills handy you can give it all of your current payment information so you don't have to do any of the more complicated maths yourself. If you don't have your bills though, most comparison sites are capable of adjusting the prices based on your location and the amount of people living in your house.

As well as switching, there's a few other things you can do in order to keep your energy bills as low as possible and save money - something that's always a lot more important during the winter months. Firstly, always stick to billed metering - don't go for a prepayment option if you have any choice at all. Things are getting better when it comes to the price of prepay energy, but it's still a long way from being as cheap as billed energy - sometimes the difference annually can be as much as £300!

If you have to get a pre-payment meter due to income hardship or a bad credit history, make sure you also compare pre-payment tariffs before you sign up. There's no longer a large difference in suppliers but over the year even a small discount can make a difference.

Finally, there's the old favourite: use less energy. If you use less, you'll have to spend less. Turn off electrics that are left on standby, only use lights in the room that you're in, turn your heating down by a few degrees and wear warmer clothes, and keep a check on your hot water and fridge temperatures to make sure you aren't spending too much!