We tend to take utilities for granted, like flicking on the proverbial switch. But all of our energy and entertainment needs – from gas heating to digital television – are brought to us by private companies and, like any other product or service in the marketplace, you are free to shop around for the best deal to guarantee yourself cheaper utility bills.

This section looks at the basic utilities - electricity and gas, digital tv, telephone and broadband - and explains how you can get yourself best value for money by using price comparison websites and switching provider if that is the best move for you.

One major concern that many consumers have is the gas price. Different companies handle the domestic gas supply now - even if they do bring it in from abroad through pipes like the one that recently opened from Holland to the East coast of England.

Many people think that they are stuck with their current gas supplier, for example, but that is simply not the case. You can compare gas price between the various companies and switch if one of them is offering a deal that, compared to your current supplier, is substantially cheaper. Utlity bills can be controlled in this way, and there is no penalty for doing this as you are just exercising your choice in a free market - as you would with any other goods and services.

And what is good for the gas supply is good for all the other utilities that we use a matter of course each day. The principle of a cheap utility is one you should keep in mind if you are to make maximum savings on these necessary products, yet still enjoy a good standard of service from your supplier. Cheaper utility bills are something we could all do with more of, and here you will be able to give yourself a chance of doing just that.