The exact date you must take a meter reading before energy bills rise has been revealed - and you need to act quick.
Experts have suggested that today, January 1, is the ideal date to submit a meter reading for your gas and electricity before prices see yet another hike. Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, said: "A small number of customers face paying slightly higher energy rates in the New Year.
"If you've been notified of a price increase and have a tariff that requires meter readings, you might want to submit one before January 1 to ensure you're billed accurately."
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Martin Lewis warned previously: "The energy price guarantee was meant to guarantee prices until the end of March (when we know the cost people pay will increase by 20%). So it will come as a surprise to many to see prices change in January.
"For most people the change will be trivial, but it is disappointing to see more substantial increases, with some on prepay meters seeing rises of 1%, which include most of the poorest in society. I have already been in touch with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to ask if this can be looked at, as it does not seem fair.
"The bump up for those who pay in receipt of bills takes the premium for paying that way to more than 10% over direct debit – so while many like the extra control, it's important to be aware that with typical bills from January you'll pay £260 a year for it."
The new changes will differ depending on where in the country people live and how they pay for their gas and electricity. The changes are made to the amount that energy suppliers charge per unit of gas and electricity they supply, reported Birmingham Live.
These changes come into force at the beginning of January and last until the beginning of April. People who pay on so-called standard credit, which means they get an invoice every month or quarter and do not pay by direct debit, will be the worst hit by the changes.
Prepayment meter customers will see an average bill increase of £1.50, while those who pay by direct debit will see an average increase of just two pence. For these customers "suppliers have flexibility to apply slightly different discounts to the individual rates within the tariff, helping to balance out the reduction of more expensive day rates with cheaper night-time electricity rates. Each supplier will approach this differently", the Government said.
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