ALMOST half of Britons do not "prioritise" finding the best energy deal despite the potential for saving money, a survey for regulator Ofgem has found.
The poll found 33% of consumers are concerned about their energy bills but 43% do not make shopping around for a better deal a priority.
Almost half of British bill payers (45%) said they do not feel they could save much money and one in four (24%) said they thought shopping around for energy would be too much "hassle".
Previous studies have found more than half of Britons (53%) say they are confused about energy tariffs.
But the regulator is launching the Be An Energy Shopper campaign in an effort to encourage consumers to take advantage of recent reforms to create a "simpler, clearer and fairer" energy market.
The campaign includes a consumer guide on the goenergyshopping.co.uk website to help people find the best energy tariff.
Ofgem chief executive Dermot Nolan said: "We shop and compare prices for many things in life, yet we often don't think to do the same when it comes to our energy bills, even when we could be saving around £200.
"Previously, people found it difficult to compare tariffs and the process too time consuming but the recent reforms have changed things for the better.
"With the introduction of Be An Energy Shopper it has never been easier to go energy shopping and get a better deal on your gas and electricity."
Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: "Making the switch is easier than ever before, and the Be An Energy Shopper campaign gives consumers practical advice on how to shop around and get the best deal for their energy use.
"Having made the switch myself, I would encourage anyone who hasn't already done so to check whether their current supplier is giving them the best deal - and if it isn't, switch.
"We're working to make the energy market work better for consumers. We've trebled the number of suppliers since 2010, made people's bills easier to understand, reduced the complexity of tariffs and promoted competition through initiatives such as collective switching. We want consumers to get the benefits of more competition."
:: ICM surveyed 5,084 adults online and by telephone between February 28 and March 9.
© Press Association 2014
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