What to do if you want to change energy providers - should you switch or not?

Switching energy providers used to be a good tip for keeping household costs down, as different providers offered different rates depending on your households usage but that has now changed.

Spiralling cost of living costs and energy price hikes has meant many usually switching providers have either gone bust or can't offer consumers a decent deal due to soaring wholesale costs of fuel. The average household energy bill is expected to rise to more than £3,000 this autumn, a price which many can't afford to pay.

So is now the right time to be switching energy suppliers and can it be done? Martin Lewis, the man behind Money Saving Expert, has previously warned householders not to switch suppliers because their bills with their new provider may be even higher than their original supplier because of rising energy costs for everyone.

READ MORE: Citizens Advice website down as many householders rush for help over energy crisis

With 'cheap' energy suppliers in short supply in the current market and many smaller suppliers dropping out in the past year, it's thought switching energy suppliers now may not have the same results as it would of this time last year.

Price comparison website Uswitch helps users compare the market to get the best energy deal, but despite its proven history of getting households the cheapest offer it looks like now is not the best time to try and make that move.

Richard Neudegg, the Head of Regulation at Uswitch, said: "The easiest way to save money on energy historically has been to switch energy regularly to ensure you're on a good deal. With wholesale energy prices still high, though, most customers may find that staying put at the moment is the best course of action."

Despite the tricky market,