How to reduce your energy bills – energy efficiency and tariff switching
Energy Efficiency
There are lots of ways to save on energy bills and a few small changes can make a significant difference.
Tips are available from OFGEM (the government regulator):
Various price comparison websites such as https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/energy/ and SimpleEnergyAdvice.org.uk offer typical suggestions for reducing your energy bills:
- Take showers instead of baths https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/measures/take-showers-instead-of-baths
- Reduce tumble dryer usage https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/measures/reduce-tumble-dryer-use
- Turn down thermostat https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/measures/meta_one_degree_reduction
Government support for homeowners towards the cost of installing energy efficient and low-carbon heating improvements to homes is available via the Green Homes Grant and more information on this can be found at https://greenhomesgrant.campaign.gov.uk
Tariff switching
Even when consuming energy as efficiently as possible, most people are still paying too much and simple savings can be made by moving to a lower tariff. This may involves switching to a cheaper tariff provided by your existing supplier, or switching supplier and both of these have been made such simpler in recent years.
Your latest energy bill will tell you if a cheaper tariff is available. If you’re not on the cheapest tariff it only takes a telephone call to your provider to change to a cheaper tariff. You must check that there is no tariff exit fee before switching.
Advice about switching is available from the Citizens Advice’s own website:
In addition the various price comparison websites such as https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/energy/ also provide information about switching and many of them will arrange the switch for you automatically.
The best rates are available to those who can pay by direct debit so if you have a prepayment meter but are not in debt to your energy supplier it is advisable to switch to a normal meter and pay monthly.