MILLIONS of households are facing rises in their energy bills within weeks.
From April 1, average tariffs will go up by £111 to £1,849 a year for a typical household, as the price cap rises again.
We reveal how you can save money on your energy bill and what deals are available[/caption]
From April 1, prices will go up by £111 for a typical household[/caption]
With the cost-of-living crisis still raging, families will be under even greater stress. But plenty can still be done to protect yourself.
Adele Cooke explains what is happening, what deals are available and how you can save money on your bill . . .
SAVE WITH A FIXED DEAL
AROUND 22million households in England, Scotland and Wales are on a variable rate tariff, so their bills rise and fall in line with the energy price cap.
The cap is set by regulator Ofgem every three months.
It limits the maximum amount an energy firm can charge households for the units of gas and electricity they use.
But experts warn that these households could save money by taking out a fixed tariff.
With these fixed deals, the price you pay for each unit of power is the same for a certain term, which is typically one or two years.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, believes now is the time for households to find a fixed energy deal.
He said: “Consumers shouldn’t delay their decision as there are a range of deals that are cheaper than current rates, so they’ll start saving money even before April’s hikes.”
The cheapest fix on the market is from Outfox The Market and could save the average household £199 a year compared to the April price cap.
British Gas has a tariff which could save households £181 a year.
There are several longer deals on offer for those who are prepared to lock into a tariff for up to two years.
Outfox The Market has a 24-month tariff, which is £177 cheaper than the April cap.
Meanwhile, So Energy offers a two-year deal which would save £167 compared to the price cap.
Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, said deals change all the time, so check what your provider has available.
You can use a comparison site such as Uswitch or Compare The Market to see what other suppliers offer.
Emily added: “You may find rates that are close to what you’re paying now that will mean you make savings in the summer months when bills go up.
“As a rule of thumb, we’d recommend looking for deals close to the current price cap, not longer than 12 months, and without significant exit fees.”
For example, Utility Warehouse and Ovo Energy charge £150 to leave a gas and electricity contract early.
Locking into a fix now is not without risks.
If you take out a fix, you could save money from now until June, when the April price cap expires.
But if the cap falls substantially the next time it is set, you could end up overpaying, which could cancel out your earlier savings. If you want to guarantee that you will save money then consider a tracker tariff.
These deals charge you a set amount below the price cap, so you know you will always save money.
For example, EDF has a one-year tracker tariff which is guaranteed to save you £100 compared to the price cap.
APPLY FOR BILL HELP
Contact your energy supplier to get help with your bill if you are struggling to pay[/caption]
IF you are struggling to pay your bill then contact your energy supplier.
You could get support worth up to £2,000 through the British Gas Energy Support Fund.
You can apply if you are a British Gas or Scottish Gas energy customer who is struggling to pay your bill and have sought financial advice.
You must live in England, Scotland or Wales, have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust in the last year and have a credit or prepayment meter with an outstanding account debt.
To apply visit britishgasenergy trust.org.uk/grants-available.
EDF’s Customer Support Fund provides grants to vulnerable customers struggling with energy debt.
The grants can help to clear debt and buy appliances, including fridges or cookers. Visit edfcustomersupportfund. charisgrants.com.
Octopus Energy offers financial support through its Octo Assist Fund. Customers can get free electric blankets, bill grants and a holiday from their standing charges. Visit octopus.energy/blog/octo-assist.
E.ON Next customers can apply for cash grants. You will be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances, such as proof of household income or benefit payments. Visit eonnext energyfund.com.
You may receive a Warm Home Discount worth £150 if you claim certain benefits. To be eligible, you or your partner that you live with must have received the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit on August 11, 2024.
You may get the cash if you receive one of several benefits and you are considered to have high energy costs.
The Government will work this out automatically and you do not need to apply.
If you are eligible you will get £150 off your electricity bill or £150 added to your prepayment meter.
The payments will be made by March 31, 2025.
HELP FROM POST OFFICE
Andrew Watson is a senior team leader in the Energy Debt department at the British Gas Energy trust[/caption]
THE local Post Office may seem like an unlikely place to go to for advice on how to cut your energy bills.
But it has partnered with the British Gas Energy trust to offer advice sessions in its branches.
Between October and March each year a team of advisers travel around the country to share their tips.
I visited a session in Leicester to see how much I could save on my energy bill, which has doubled to £200 since the energy crisis.
While I was there I saw the team help a woman in her twenties cut her energy bill. She was given a tote bag with a shower timer, radiator key and booklets on how to cut her usage.
Andrew Watson, a senior team leader in the Energy Debt department at the trust, gave me a leaflet with 20 energy-saving tips.
It told me to draught-proof my home, install insulation and take shorter showers. These measures could slash my bill by £160 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Meanwhile, if I insulate my walls I could save £240 a year.
Adele Cooke
OVO’S NEW HOME VISITS
Assessor Sean Newman from OVO Energy[/caption]
OVO Energy is helping customers to save on their energy bills with a home check.
The visit costs £40 for Ovo customers, or £25 if you are signed up to the Ovo Beyond reward scheme.
A qualified domestic energy assessor visited my house to do a complete Home Health Report.
Assessor Sean Newman checked my radiators, chimney and windows to see where heat was escaping.
The visit took 90 minutes and I was able to ask specific questions about my bill. Sean recommended that I install loft insulation, which costs £350 but would save me £66 a year.
Underfloor insulation on the ground floor would set me back £1,200 but could shave £41 off my bills.
Meanwhile, a £17 chimney balloon would help to prevent heat from escaping.
I was also given an up-to-date Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which rated my home’s energy efficiency.
If I implemented all the changes Sean suggested, I could save £759 a year on my energy bills.
Sam Walker
