Simon Read: Switching and comparison sites and how to waste energy

The Big Deal energy-switching scheme claimed last month that comparison sites are misleading consumers by only showing them results from companies that pay huge commission.

This week Joe Malinowski, founder of the price-comparison website TheEnergyShop.com, hit back. "It's surprising that a collective switching operator raised the issue of transparency," he said. "The reality is that most collective switching schemes are neither transparent nor 'all of market'. Neither are they regulated."

To back that up, he claims that the majority of those who signed up to The Big Deal switch this summer, and were offered a two-year fixed rate with Green Star Energy, could have done better with a one-year deal through a comparison website.

I don't wish to wade into the row, I'd just like to point out that savvy consumers should look at all the options and not believe the hype of any one firm. If you want the best deal, sort it out for yourself.

s.read@independent.co.uk

twitter: @simonnread