This Morning viewers sought help and advice from Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis on Wednesday, following a high increase in the cost of energy bills across the UK.
After the recent energy price cap increase by 54 per cent , many families are facing higher payments for gas and electricity - with reports of another increase later in the year.
Viewers wrote into This Morning to Martin on Wednesday, with hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond reading out some of the questions.
One particular viewer queried their latest energy bills which appeared to have doubled since the increase, with them not sure the total was correct.
Reaching out to Martin, they questioned whether it seemed right, as they believed it was around a 100 per cent increase and not the 54 per cent - with him quick to advise how to work this out.
Martin explained there were three reasons why bills might have increased, so extortionately, and what to do if you believe they have increased more than they should have.
He revealed: "There are three reasons why your price may have gone up by more than the 54 per cent price cap rise.
"Number one, you were on a fix and now that fix has ended, because that would have been cheaper than the prior price cap. It doesn't apply in this case because you say that you're on a price cap tariff.
"Number two, you have moved to a fixed rate and not to a price cap rate. Just double check that hasn't happened, because some energy companies have been pushing it hard and you might have not quite realised that the offer they gave you was an offer as opposed to a compulsory thing that you had to do.
"So check if you've moved to a fixed rate tariff as opposed to a variable tariff, because they are far more expensive than the price cap.
"But the most common reason, and this can work with the first two reasons, is because your estimate has increased. So they have estimated you are using more energy.
"So there's a couple of things you need to do here. First of all, do a meter reading, and make sure you have done a meter reading because that's the way that your estimates are best based.
"Then check whether you are in credit or in debt. If you're in substantial debt, then it's probably because your direct debit was underestimating your usage, and it's fair.
"But if you are in credit or about balanced at the moment because we're moving into summer, you should just be about... roughly not have any credit or not that much credit, not that much debt, no more than the month either side, then if they put your estimated usage up by more than 54 per cent, you need to get on to them and say why have you done that?
"And under energy firms' licence conditions, their licence says that they must give customers a fair direct debit that reflects their usage. So you have a right to get in touch with them politely. People in energy call centres are having a really stressful time at the moment, it's not their fault.
"So don't take it out on them and ask, can you tell me why you've put it up this much when I'm in credit? And if they can't justify it ask them to bring it down.
"If they don't bring it down when you've asked them then make a formal complaint and then go onto the energy ombudsman service.
"If you're in credit you really shouldn't be going up by more than 54 per cent, if you're moving from price cap tariff to the new higher price cap tariff."
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.
