Houston, TX (Vocus) October 20, 2010
Millions of Americans feel they are paying too much for home utilities yet are not taking steps to reduce bills, according to a new research report commissioned by home services shopping site WhiteFence.com and conducted by independent research firm Kelton Research. Research shows that the average American pays $ 374 per month for home utilities, and while 81 percent would consider switching utility companies if it meant saving money, only 50 percent have attempted to reduce their monthly bills.
As the average monthly home utilities bill creeps closer to $ 400 and consumers continue to tighten their budgets ahead of the holiday season, its no surprise that Americans are more closely considering home utilities charges like phone, internet, TV, electricity and natural gas. According to this years findings, Americans are most anxious about cable charges with 55 percent concerned they are not getting the best deal on home cable. 49 percent of Americans believe they are paying too much for home electricity and 43 percent are concerned about Internet service.
Despite budget concerns, only 50 percent of Americans have ever tried to reduce charges for home services. Almost four in ten (39 percent) of those who havent tried dont think its possible to get a better deal on home utility bills, while just as many (37 percent) think its unheard of for utility companies to reduce prices. If given the opportunity to save money, however, 81 percent would consider switching utility companies.
Americans are always looking for new ways to save, but this study confirms our view that not enough consumers realize just how easy it is to save money on home utilities bills, said Bob Harris, CEO, WhiteFence.com. We have found that consumers can save up to 30 percent on utilities just by comparison shopping, and in these tough economic times taking a few minutes to ensure you are receiving the best deal on phone, Internet, television, electricity, natural gas and other home services is a no-brainer.
While many Americans feel they are spending too much on home services, consumers in some regions are paying far more than others. Americans in the Northeast report paying the most for their home utilities, averaging $ 452 each month versus $ 386 in the South, $ 364 in the Midwest and $ 303 in the West.
About The Survey
The WhiteFence Utility Survey was conducted by Kelton Research between September 17th and September 23rd, 2010 using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population ages 18 and over. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.
About WhiteFence
WhiteFence is a free service that helps people find the best deals on phone, Internet, television, electricity, natural gas and other home services. By simply entering a street address into the secure site, people looking to save money or start new service can find the most comprehensive list of plans available for their specific address from over 400 nationally recognized partners. As a trusted home service shopping source for 24 million people annually, WhiteFence makes it easy to establish service directly on the site in a few simple steps.
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