Most of the major energy companies in the UK offer both gas and electricity among their services, which means the days when you had to arrange your home utilities from different providers are fast becoming a thing of the past.

Many people who have not switched supplier for a number of years may still be receiving these services from different companies, either out of loyalty to trusted suppliers or out of a belief that picking and choosing from the different options available could help them to save money - but in reality, signing up to a dual fuel tariff and allowing a single company to take care of all your household energy needs can usually be the most cost-effective option, particularly with the discounts offered.

Because energy companies are naturally eager for customers to sign up with more of their services, it's common for these suppliers to offer incentives for existing customers who choose additional products and services, or for new customers who choose dual fuel tariffs from the onset. These incentives are usually delivered in the form of price reductions - which can be even greater when choosing to pay by direct debit - and these price discounts typically manifest as real savings on each monthly gas and electricity bill for the duration of your contract.

The potential price savings are not the only reason to consider dual fuel tariffs however, as these options can also be much more convenient than dealing with two different companies, especially during times of energy crisis when it's important to keep a close eye on the gas and electricity markets. If you have had positive experiences with a certain energy company in the past, you won't have to worry about dealing with a separate supplier for your home's secondary energy supply, and you will also have the benefit of a single point of contact and single emergency call-out number to provide assistance with any situation related to your gas or electricity supplies and appliances.

This type of combined billing service is not unique to the gas and electric markets, and you may already be using similar services to receive your telephone, broadband internet and cable TV from the same supplier, for example, or your home insurance and car cover from the same insurance company. Arranging your gas and electricity services together means less hassle, lower prices and fewer things to worry about when moving home and taking your energy tariffs with you.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.