How to keep your energy bills down this winter

How to keep your energy bills down this winter
Energy companies have been put under pressure by the Prime Minister to lower their prices to reflect the fall in oil and wholesale gas prices.

After oil prices reached a record high of $147 a barrel in July, prices have dropped to around $63 a barrel, while gas prices fell by 19%. This winter has been predicted to be a cold one, so consumers and industry watchdogs are urging price cuts to be put into place now. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said that he would take action by legislating to force firms to offer more reasonable prices, especially to the poorest customers such as those on prepayment meters.

The gas and electricity firms have reacted by saying that the reason for the fall in oil prices is due to fears over consumption levels in the current economic state, so prices are likely to rise in line with demand. Growing concerns come over the suppliers – Russia, Qatar and Iran, who own 60% of the planets gas reserves and could increase prices.

Another reason for the continued high prices inflicted on consumers is that energy firms tend to buy in advance, so the energy we will be using throughout the winter is likely to have been bought at a time when prices were higher. This means that the lower wholesale prices we are currently seeing may not be passed onto consumers until next year.

With high energy prices set to continue over the coming winter months, we have devised some tips that can help you to keep your bills as low as possible.

Trawl the market for the best deal

Despite the current high energy prices there is still competition in the market and you may be able to switch to a provider offering a better deal. You could save up to £349 a year when you switch your gas and electricity. Switching both your electricity and gas to one supplier can increase your savings and reduces your administration as you only have one bill to pay. The Which4u comparison website has a utility bills comparison tool that allows you to enter enter a few details to show you how much you could save by switching. Once we find the best deal for you its easy to switch online, helping you to make instant savings.

Don't pay more than you should be

An estimated £50 million a year is wasted in unnecessary charges in the UK with households paying their bills based on estimates. You must make sure you take regular gas and electricity meter readings to avoid paying more than you should be. If you do receive an estimate that seems higher than you expected, contact your supplier as you may be able to significantly reduce your bill.

If you find you have missed the call from the meter reader you can always take the reading yourself and pass it onto your energy provider by phone or on the internet.

Find out if you are eligible for benefits

If you live in a fuel-poor household you may find you are entitled to a rebate. For example, people over the age of 60 may be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment of £250 or more. This is usually paid automatically if you have a state pension. If you're over 60 and not receiving this benefit call the helpline 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday on 0845 915 1515.

You may also qualify for a social tariff, available from all six major energy providers - British Gas, Npower, E.ON, EDF Energy, Scottish Power and Scottish & Southern, with discounts of up to £300 a year. No eligibility criteria has been set, so if you're disabled, elderly, have a family with small children or receive income support it is worth contacting your provider to ask.

The Warm Front Scheme

The Warm Front Scheme is a government funded project designed to help cover the cost of insulation for roofs and walls, and general techniques to keep your home warmer. This could save you a significant amount on your energy bills each year. Those over 60, on income support, receiving council tax benefit, housing benefit, pension credit, jobseeker's allowance, or householders with a child under 16 should apply. To see if you are eligible for these benefits call 0800 072 9006.

Published by Sam Gooch
Thursday, 30 October 2008 11:27
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Comments (1)

The comments listed below are opinions held by the individuals posting and are not endorsed by, or representative of opinions held by which4u.co.uk. We cannot be held responsible or liable for the accuracy or content of any comments submitted. We reserve the right to publish, remove or edit comments as we see fit.
  • Alex Smith 2010-07-30 10:52:11
    There's some good tips here. Also I recommend that you get your home properly insulated. It may cost you a bit to begin with, but will save you money in the long run!

    You can also qualify for government grants or discounts off the materials, so well worth looking into.

    Also I recommend taking a hot water bottle/partner to bed as these will also keep you warm at night

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  • You are a permanent resident/citizen of the UK
  • You have a bank or building society account
  • You have an income over £20,000 p.a

Advice

You must spend a minimum of £100 in the 1st 3 months or the 6 month 0% purchase duration is reduced to 3 months only. Keep track of your money across your Lloyds TSB personal current and credit card accounts with Money Manager and Active Account Monitoring to spot any suspicious spending.

Introductory Offer
Balance Transfer Rate: 4.90% for 12 mths
Balance Transfer Fee: 1.50%
Purchase Rate: 0% for 6 mths
Representative APR
Purchases: 11.9% p.a. (variable)
Representative Example: If you spend £1,200 at a purchase interest rate of 11.95% (variable) your Representative APR will be 11.9% (variable).
Annual Rates
Balance Transfers: 11.9% p.a.
Cash Advance: 24.9% p.a.
Annual Fee: N/A
Standard Features
Credit Limit: £50,000
Interest Free Days: Up to 56 days
On-Line Banking: Yes
Approval Criteria
  • You are at least 18 Years of Age
  • You have a Good Credit History
  • You are a permanent resident/citizen of the UK
  • You have a bank or building society account
  • You have an income over £25,000 p.a

Advice

Not only do you get 6 months 0% on purchases, you also get 5% cashback on up to £2,000 spend within 1st 3 months (Max £100). After this you can earn cashback rates of 1.25% with NO spend limit!!

Introductory Offer
Balance Transfer Rate: N/A
Balance Transfer Fee: N/A
Purchase Rate: 0% for 6 mths
Representative APR
Purchases: 18.5% p.a. (variable)
Representative Example: If you spend £1,200 at an annual interest rate of 14.0% (variable) with a £25 annual Fee your Representative APR will be 18.5% (variable).
Annual Rates
Balance Transfers: 18.5% p.a.
Cash Advance: 22.9% p.a.
Annual Fee: £25 p.a.
Standard Features
Credit Limit: £50,000
Interest Free Days: Up to 56 days
On-Line Banking: Yes
Cashback
Introductory Cashback Rate: 5% p.a.3 mths
Standard Cashback Rate: 1.25%
Approval Criteria
  • I am aged 18 or over
  • I have a current UK bank or building society account
  • I have a permanent UK home address
  • I have a household income of at least £20,000
  • I have no history of bad debt
  • If self-employed, I have been working for more than one year.

Advice

Earn AA Reward Points on your everyday card purchases, and earn double points on motoring, fuel and AA products. Use your points to purchase from a range of motoring products and services.

Introductory Offer
Balance Transfer Rate: 0% for 16 mths
Balance Transfer Fee: 3%
Purchase Rate: 0% for 3 mths
Representative APR
Purchases: 17.9% p.a. (variable)
Representative Example: If you spend £1,200 at a purchase interest rate of 17.9% (variable) your Representative APR will be 17.9% (variable).
Annual Rates
Balance Transfers: 17.9% p.a.
Cash Advance: 22.9% p.a.
Annual Fee: N/A
Standard Features
Credit Limit: Subject to Status
Interest Free Days: Up to 58 days
On-Line Banking: Yes
Approval Criteria
  • You are currently employed
  • You are over 23 years of age
  • You are a homeowner
  • You have an income of over £20,000
  • You do not have any recent credit defaults (CCJ's, current arrears or missed payments) on credit cards / loans / mortgages
  • You are a resident in the UK and can prove residential addresses for the past two years

Advice

Earn AA Reward Points on your everyday card purchases, and earn double points on motoring, fuel and AA products. Use your points to purchase from a range of motoring products and services.

Introductory Offer
Balance Transfer Rate: 0% for 12 mths
Balance Transfer Fee: 3%
Purchase Rate: 0% for 10 mths
Representative APR
Purchases: 16.9% p.a. (variable)
Representative Example: If you spend £1,200 at a purchase interest rate of 17.9% (variable) your Representative APR will be 17.9% (variable).
Annual Rates
Balance Transfers: 16.9% p.a.
Cash Advance: 22.9% p.a.
Annual Fee: N/A
Standard Features
Credit Limit: Subject to Status
Interest Free Days: Up to 58 days
On-Line Banking: Yes
Approval Criteria
  • You are currently employed
  • You are over 23 years of age
  • You are a homeowner
  • You have an income of over £20,000
  • You do not have any recent credit defaults (CCJ's, current arrears or missed payments) on credit cards / loans / mortgages
  • You are a resident in the UK and can prove residential addresses for the past two years