Former state-owned energy supplier British Gas has seen its market share fall below the 50 per cent mark, according to regulator Ofgem.
New figures released today reveal that the Centrica-owned utility had a domestic market share of 48 per cent in October.
The regulator said in the first ten months of 2006, 3.25 million gas customers changed supplier while four million electricity customers switched after the former monopoly-holder hiked bills by 22 per cent in March and 12.4 per cent in September.
Customers signing up to dual-fuel deals rose over four million, 750,000 more than in 2005.
Ofgem, which said each consumer saved about £150 by switching, is advising disgruntled consumers to "vote with their feet". It expects bills will decrease this year as wholesale prices fall.
Ofgem chief executive, Alistair Buchanan, said: "Energy customers have given expensive suppliers the boot with over four million moving to a cheaper supplier in the first ten months of 2006.
"This dynamic market is most dramatically illustrated by British Gas seeing their share of the household gas market fall below 50 per cent for the first time."
The average household energy bill is now more than £1,000.
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