Not very many people care about their household fuel bills during the summer. After all, we’re having a warm one, and our consumption is likely to be low accordingly. Our gas and electricity bills couldn’t be further from our minds.
However, I’m about to make the case that the summer is exactly the right time to be thinking about your gas and electricity bills. So put down the barbeque tongs for just two minutes, and lend me an ear. I promise I’ll be quick…
Beat the price rise
The gas and electricity market is pretty flat at the moment, but actually that’s a pretty good time to switch supplier or tariff if you haven’t recently. There’s no good reason to spend a long time on a rubbish energy tariff whilst waiting for something to happen.
If you want some sort of indication as to where the market is going before committing, it’s worth noting that suppliers are currently withdrawing their fixed tariffs, which suggests that prices may soon go up. After all, the suppliers will consider these tariffs to be less of a ‘safe bet’.
Plus it’s always a good idea to get on a favourable rate before the winter. Fuel prices invariably rise with increased demand, so even if you don’t impulsively switch today, it’s worth keeping this in mind before the weather gets cold later in the year.
The warm weather brings ‘em out
The moment it gets sunny, you can safely expect that the door knockers will be buzzing about. Door-to-door salesmen may well be able to save you money on your energy bills, but nowhere near as much as you’d save by switching to an online tariff, which consistently top national best buy tables.
Find out more by reading our article Avoid Doorstep Energy Switching.
Equally, don’t be fooled by energy companies banging on about having the best-priced standard tariffs. This is a bit like saying ‘We offer the best of the worst’, as you’re likely to get a much better deal if you avoid standard tariffs and go for online deals.
Top Tip
You may not be burning through fuel at the moment, but the summer is an excellent time to make your home more energy efficient. If you need to replace windows or get yourself some cavity-wall insulation, then it’s much nicer to do it when it’s not cold and raining.
If you want to see the type of difference this will make to your consumption, then why not get yourself a smart meter or energy monitor beforehand. Then you can see for yourself how much energy a well-insulated home could save. Plus, you won’t have to get potentially-inaccurate estimated bills anymore. Bonus!
