SMEs could save "a lot of money" by switching their energy provider, one industry body has said.

Tim Wolfenden, head of home services for uSwitch, said: "We find that for businesses who haven't ever made a choice to switch supplier, they could save 50 per cent on their bills. So there's a massive saving."

An SME spending £10,000 a year on energy bills could save £5,000 by switching, Mr Wolfenden pointed out.

He suggested that anyone running an SME might want to use a price comparison service in order to obtain "a good breadth of quotes in the market place".

Mr Wolfenden said that were some "competitive deals out there".

Earlier this month consumer group Energywatch reported that three of the UK's big six energy suppliers - including British Gas - have increased bills by up to 15 per cent in 2008.

The companies cited rising wholesale gas and electricity prices as justification for the increases.

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