The typical UK household now spends more than £1,000 a year on gas and electricity, so it makes sense to do all you can to keep a lid on your bills.
It’s easy to check whether you could pay less by moving to a new supplier, for example.
At the same time, many energy-efficiency measures cost little to implement, and can quickly be paid for by the savings they generate.
And as well as cutting the amount of energy you use, there are a number of schemes – run by the government as well as power companies themselves – that can help when the cost of heating and lighting your home becomes unaffordable.
Getting the right deal
Millions of UK households have never switched energy supplier, despite the fact that this can be one of the simplest and quickest ways to cut gas and electricity bills.
All you need is details of your current provider and how much energy you normally use, or what it typically costs.
Armed with this information, a price-comparison service can tell you if there are any tariffs that will save you money.
If you’re worried about price rises in the future, you also have the option of signing up for a tariff that is fixed for a certain period.
However, you should bear in mind that this is likely to be more expensive than a standard tariff at the outset.
How you pay for your power can also have an effect on its price: if you agree to pay by direct debit – where your supplier automatically takes its payment from your bank account – you are normally entitled to a small discount.
Improving your home’s energy efficiency
Taking some simple steps to boost your home’s energy efficiency can result in greater warmth at a lower cost.
The Energy Savings Trust (EST) has a lot of information about the options available: it can help you work out how much you are likely to save via a variety of efficiency measures, and also which are likely to be most effective in your house or flat.
These range from the less expensive, such as improving door and window insulation, to more pricey projects such as switching to a more efficient boiler.
Financial help with energy efficiency
The EST website also has a section where you can find grants or discounts applicable to energy-efficiency measures that are available in your area.
Alternatively you may be able to apply for local authority cash to help fund home improvements. Find out more here if you live in England or Wales, or here if you are resident in Scotland.
The government’s main support for energy-efficiency improvements comes in the form of schemes which depend on where in the UK you live.
Normally you have to make an application: if this is successful, your home will be assessed to see if it is eligible for improvements and what work needs to be done.
- The Warm Front scheme in England offers heating and insulation improvements to households on low incomes or benefits if their homes are poorly insulated or do not have functioning central heating.
Improvements can be worth up to £3,500, or £6,000 if oil central heating is recommended.
- The Energy Assistance Package in Scotland offers help to a wide range of residents, from advice to home-improvement grants. You may qualify for extra income or discounted energy bills.
- In Wales, the Nest scheme has been set up to reduce the number of households in fuel poverty. Its advisers can assess whether you are eligible with financial help in improving your home’s energy efficiency.
- And the Warm Homes scheme in Northern Ireland offers similar help to those on certain benefits.
More assistance packages
Older people may be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments of between £100 and £300 if they have reached state pension age – for precise details of the age qualifications, follow the link.
Those who turned 80 before the start of the winter in question are eligible for the full £300 if they live alone or are the only qualifying person in their household. For more details of payments, look at the Direct.gov.uk website.
Winter Fuel Payments often change from year to year, but do not depend on cold weather to be triggered.
People in receipt of certain benefits, on the other hand, may be given cold weather payments of £25 whenever their local weather station records a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
If you are having difficulty paying your energy bills, you should address the problem as soon as possible: your supplier should be sympathetic and offer ways to help you pay what you owe in a reasonable timeframe.
For more information, have a look at this government factsheet on what to do if you get into arrears.
