Good news for future householders, with their hovercars and their robot dogs: an analysis of consumer bills by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has estimated that consumer bills will be, on average, £94 cheaper by the year 2020.

And Scottish National Party MP and energy minister Fergus Ewing has welcomed analysis that predicts lower bills for those Scottish property owners who embrace green policies and renewable energy between now and 2020.

"Renewable energy is vital to Scotland and to the rest of the UK," the minister said. "It is essential if we are to keep bills down for ordinary families, boost the economy and meet our climate change targets."

The forecast comes as this week gas giant Centrica, which own Scottish Gas, warned that energy prices were likely to rise as much as £50 per year for the average household as wholesale gas prices have risen.

However, the DECC predicts that investment in low carbon energy policies and renewable measures across the UK - as well as households embracing eco-friendly measures around the home such as low-energy lighting and consumer units - could result in dramatically lower bills within the next ten years.

"DECC figures show that every family in the United Kingdom will have energy bills nearly £100 lower in 2020 with low carbon initiatives than if we continue with the status quo," Mr Ewing continued.

Meanwhile, Scottish Gas energy rival E.ON has released a statement promising not to raise residential energy prices in 2012 - which will hopefully signal a change for fellow members of the Big Six energy monopoly to do the same.

Five million customers are expected to benefit from the price pledge this week, with E.ON UK chief executive Dr Tony Cocker saying: "Let me be clear, E.ON will not raise residential prices in 2012. I want every family in the UK to know that we will always do our best to be fair and act in the best interests of our customers."