PowerGen to offer free ISP with discounts on energy bills

Energy giant PowerGen is launching the first free Internet service provider (ISP) to offer consumers discounts on their energy bills the longer they stay online.

Consumers logging on to the site, at www.pgen.net, for an hour a day, for example, can save up to £22 a year on their gas or electricity bill.

Users will be charged local-call BT rates. But BT claims that if users log on to the site during the day, it could add as much as £800 a year to their telephone bills, based on standard BT tariffs.

The ISP will offer a £30 cashback to new customers who apply online to receive their electricity and gas from PowerGen. The company claims customers switching from British Gas could save a further £42 a year, based on average energy bills.

PowerGen marketing director John Evans says: “There are very few ISPs which give you something in return for your custom. We are giving consumers the opportunity to save on their energy bills while surfing the Net.”

The site also includes a real-time online share-dealing service, which will provide free market, price and company information, plus access to over 700 home shopping stores and e-mail facilities.