Energy bills are set to rise again this winter and pile more pressure on families during the cost of living crisis. The energy price cap - which is currently set at £1,971 for someone with typical use, paying by direct debit - is expected to rise again when it is reviewed in October.
Experts at Cornwall Insight expect a concerning jump of almost 82% to £3,582 in October - followed by an even higher rise to £4,266 in January, as reported by the Mirror. But bleaker predictions has been published by consultancy firm Auxilione - who say the energy price cap could hit £4,650 in January and £5,456 by April.
While there is not much you can do about the price cap level, you might be able to make small changes around your home to help lower your bill. The price cap isn’t actually a total cap on your bill - instead, it is a limit on the unit rate and standing charge that energy suppliers can charge for their standard variable tariffs.
Read more: £25 a month off energy bills - Tea drinker shares free kettle trick that cuts bills
This means if you use less energy, you’ll pay less - or use more, and you’ll pay more. Here are 50 ways to lower your energy bill and how to get help paying your bill.
1. Turn the thermostat down
Turning down your thermostat by just one degree could save you around 10% on your energy bill - and you shouldn't feel much difference. The ideal temperature range to set your thermostat is 18 to 21 degrees.
2. Wash your clothes on 30
Washing your clothes at 30 degrees compared to a higher setting uses around 40% less energy. This is because your washing machine has to work harder to heat up the water to a hotter temperature.
3. Use a shorter washing cycle
As well as turning the temperature down, make sure you wash your clothes on the shortest cycle. This will use less water as well.
4. Dry your clothes outside
If you can, avoid using the tumble dryer and hang your clothes outside to dry. If you don’t have access to outside space, use a clothes airer in a well ventilated area with access to a window.
5. Fill up your washing machine
Always wash your clothes when you have a full load - this way you won’t waste more energy by doing lots of cycles. However, don’t overload your washing machine, otherwise you risk your clothes not washing properly.
6 . Use your dishwasher more efficiently
Uswitch says there is “no absolute proof” to determine whether a dishwasher is more energy efficient than washing by hand. If you do have a dishwasher, make sure you’re on an eco setting, wait until you’ve got a full load - and clear your machine regularly to avoid having to re-wash.
7. Use a washing up bowl
If you’re washing up by hand, make sure you use a washing up bowl. A bowl will catch the warm water - meaning there won’t be any unnecessary water waste.
8. Turn the lights off
It sounds like an obvious one, but we’re all guilty of it. Turning the lights off when you leave the room will save you around £20 a year on your annual energy bills, according to Energy Saving Trust.
9. Switch appliances off standby
Your appliances still use energy even when they’re on standby - so make sure anything you’re not using is switched off at the wall. For example, your TV still draws power on standby so it can respond to signals from the remote control.
10. Don’t charge your phone overnight
It’s also important not to leave things plugged in overnight unnecessarily - for example, your mobile phone. Once the phone is fully charged, it still continues to use energy even in standby mode.
11. Only heat the room you're using
It might sound obvious - but don’t waste money by heating rooms that you’re not using. Go round your home and make sure your radiators are switched off in any room that isn’t occupied.
12. Bleed your radiators
Make sure you're getting the most from your central heating by bleeding your radiators at least once a year. Bleeding your radiator involves getting rid of trapped air inside that causes warm water to stop circulating around your radiator. To do this, you need a radiator key - which can be found at your nearest DIY store - and a cloth or rag to catch any water.
13. Move furniture away from radiators
Rearranging your furniture might just help to reduce your energy bill. Try moving your sofa away from the radiator so heat can circulate more freely.
14. Try tin foil behind your radiators
You can buy sheets of reflective sticky-back aluminium foil - which work by bouncing heat back into the room - for £7.59 from Screwfix. Some online hacks claim you can replicate the same effect with regular tin foil - although there isn’t enough evidence to back this up. Asda tin foil starts at 68p - so you wouldn’t be spending a lot of money testing this theory out.
15. Fix any draughts
Check the windows and under doors for signs of cool air entering your home. If the cold is coming in, then you’re wasting money trying to keep your home warm. You can make a cheap draught-excluder for your door with an old jumper and socks, or invest in a rug to stop cold air escaping through the floor.
16. Spend less time in the shower
Cutting the time you spend in the shower will slash both your water and energy bill - you’ll save money on energy as you’re heating less water. Energy Saving Trust says keeping your shower time to four minutes could save you £70 each year.
17. Change your shower head
Swap your shower head with a more energy-efficient one to save around £55 on your gas bill and £45 on their water bill (for a family of four). You can check for free or cheap energy-saving appliances on the Save Water Save Money website.
18. Swap the bath for a shower
Swapping a long bath for a four-minute just once a week could save you £12 a year on your energy bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust. You could also save an extra £7 on your water bills.
19. Turn off taps
Be careful to make sure all taps are off when you’re finishing having a bath or shower. The same applies when you’re brushing your teeth - try not to leave that tap running.
20. Don’t overfill the kettle
It’s recommended that you only fill the kettle up with how much water you need. As well as saving water, you’ll save energy as your kettle will have to work less hard as it will boil for less.
21. Use a saucepan with a lid
Using a saucepan with a lid helps save you energy as you're trapping the steam and heat in as you’re cooking. Cooking with lids on uses roughly 10% less energy than cooking without.
22. Keep your hob clean
A dirty hob with burnt-on food and grease will use more energy, as it will take longer for the heat to come through. Always remember to give it a good clean to help lower your bill and cook time.
23. Use the microwave
Uswitch says the microwave is generally the most efficient way to heat up and cook food. This is because it is always quicker and smaller in size compared to an oven, but make sure your food can be microwaved first by reading the label.
24. Bulk cook in the oven
If you are using the oven, try and make maximum use of the space - and the energy you’re using - by cooking as much food as possible in one go. This also prepares you for the week ahead, as leftover portions can be frozen or chilled for later.
25. Defrost food in the fridge
It might be tempting to use the defrost setting on your microwave - especially if you’re forgotten to take your dinner out the freezer. But the best way to defrost your food without spending a penny is by putting it in the freezer.
26. Keep the oven door shut
Your oven loses heat every time you open the door - it then uses more energy to get it back up to temperature. Uswitch says an oven can sometimes lose as much as 25 degrees in heat when you open the door.
27. Look at energy ratings
Each appliance has an energy rating, labelled from A to G, with A being the most efficient. The initial cost may be higher, but they will save you — and the planet — in the long run.
28. Clean your fridge
Clean behind your fridge and freezer regularly to keep your appliance working as efficiently as possible. Dust on the condenser coils can prevent your appliance from cooling as quickly as it should, meaning it needs to work extra hard to keep your food cold.
29. Defrost your freezer
You also need to defrost your fridge freezer regularly to avoid wasting energy. A build-up of frost means your freezer’s motor has to work harder to keep food cold.
30. Switch to LED light bulbs
Energy Saving Trust says you save between £1 and £4 per year for every traditional or halogen bulb you switch to an LED. While it would cost you in the short-term to replace every bulb - approximately £145 for the average household - you could save £40 per year.
31. Buy USB gloves
One really important thing first: always put your health first and don’t avoid switching the heating on if it could be detrimental to you. If you’re healthy and looking to just warm up your hands, research from MoneySavingExpert has found heated USB gloves are one of the cheapest options. It estimates that USB gloves cost less than 1p per hour to run, with an upfront cost of roughly £5.
32. Invest in heated insoles
Or if you're prone to cold feet, you could try buying some heated insoles. Again, these cost less than 1p per hour to run, with an upfront cost of approximately £8.
33. Layer up your clothes
Another way to “heat the human” is by layering up and wearing as many clothes as possible. You don’t necessarily need to go out and buy thermals - it can just be regular clothes you already own.
34. Close your curtains in the evening
Keeping your curtains shut in the evening reduces heat loss by up to 17%, according to researchers at the University of Salford. If you don't have curtains, blinds may also be able to help keep in heat, though to a lesser degree.
35. But keep them open in the summer
When the weather is warm, do the opposite and keep your curtains open for longer. This will keep the sun coming in, thereby making your home hotter for longer.
36. Get a smart meter
Getting a smart meter won’t cut your bills for you - but they tell you how much energy you’re using. This means you can then see which appliances are sucking the most electricity - allowing you to see where money can be saved.
37. Submit regular energy readings
It’s important to submit regular energy readings so you know you’re being billed accurately. We’ve got a guide on how to do a meter reading here.
38. Check your energy bill carefully
You should also read your energy bill carefully to make sure you’re not being overcharged. If there's a sudden increase or decrease but you haven’t changed your usage, get in touch with your supplier.
39. Pay your energy bill by direct debit
Direct debit tends to be the cheapest way to pay your energy bills - and it means you know exactly how much is coming out of your bank each month. However, direct debits are based on the amount your energy supplier thinks you’ll use over the year - so if they’re wrong, then you could end up overpaying.
40. Invest in double glazing
Obviously, this suggestion is not going to help those of us who are watching what we spend But experts advise that investing in double glazing if you’ve only got single panes in your windows will help. Heat is lost through single glazing around twice as fast as through standard double glazing.
41. Get a new boiler
If your boiler is knackered, it might be time to invest in a new one - although this can be expensive upfront. Modern boilers can be up to 60% more efficient than older boilers, although it does depend on lots of factors such as the make and model.
42. Turn down the boiler temperature
Most boilers are set at a higher temperature than they need to be - with most experts recommending that they should be at 55 degrees for a natural gas boiler. You save roughly 6% to 8% for every 10 degrees you take it down a notch.
43. Programme your boiler
You should always programme your boiler to come on when you need it, so you’re not wasting heat when you’re out or asleep. For example, you should make sure your boiler is off during the day if you’re are at work.
44. Talk to your energy provider
If you're struggling to pay your bills, don't bury your head in the sand - speak to your energy provider as soon as possible. See what tailored support they have available to you - for example, they might be able to offer a payment plan.
45. Check for customer-only energy deals
It is also worth asking your energy supplier if you're definitely on their cheapest deal. Ask as well what customer-only deals they have.
46. Check for grants
All the big energy firms have charitable hardship funds and grants that you may be eligible for if you’re struggling. For example, the British Gas Energy Trust can be accessed by anyone - not just its customers - providing you meet the eligibility criteria.
47. See if you can claim benefits
It only takes ten minutes to do a quick benefit check online. Use the following calculators from Turn2us, Policy in Practice and entitled to to see if you’re entitled to support.
48. Look out for cost of living payments
A one-off payment worth £650 is being awarded to those who claim certain means-tested benefits - including Universal Credit and Tax Credits. There is a £150 payment being made to those who claim certain disability benefits and £300 for pensioners in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments.
49. Don't forget the £400 energy discount
Every home in England, Scotland and Wales will also receive £400 off their energy bills, spread out over six months from October.
50. Get energy debt advice
If you're in debt, don't suffer in silence. For specific energy debt help, speak to:
For wider debt help, speak to:
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Exactly when and how you'll get your £400 to pay for energy bills
