4. Igloo or Bulb customer? Your prices are due to jump AGAIN. These are no longer cheap

These two traditionally-cheap, good-service firms both offer a single variable tariff, and have just announced their third price hike of the year to hit on 1 Oct, in total pushing their prices up by £300/yr+ for someone on typical usage. Bulb's new price will be at the price cap, Igloo will only be £48/yr cheaper.

As it takes a few weeks for a switch to complete, do it now and you should make it just in time before the rates rise.

The new prices for Bulb and Igloo are in our Cheap Energy Club comparison, so you can get an accurate comparison for both.

6. Got some time left on a cheap tariff? I'd stick with it, you'll likely save more than trying to switch early will gain you

If you're on a cheap fix or even a cheap variable tariff where you know you've a few months left, my best guess is inaction right now will win. Prices have risen so much that the savings you'll make by sticking with your old cheap tariff, while it lasts, will be huge (though do compare to check).

So even though prices are rising, and waiting may mean the deal you get in future may cost even more, I suspect the gain of holding on to very cheap tariffs now will likely outweigh that. It is more art than science though.

8. Even at these high prices, many firms claim they're selling below cost, so sadly we may see more small firms go bust

Small new firms, with less capital behind them, are more likely to be at risk in the turbulent market, as high and rising wholesale prices can seriously squeeze providers' profits.

As some firms moot they aren't making money, even at the price cap, then it's possible cheap rates are more about winning over new customers, which can be a sign of ambition or desperation - it's tough to tell.

It's a nightmare to try to pick which firm may go under, because as soon as a firm knows it's insolvent it must declare it then, so there's usually no pre-warning (never mind the libel risk).

If you do go for a firm that later goes bust, don't worry - your gas and electricity stays on and any credit is protected under Ofgem's safety net rules. Though the process of being shifted to a new supplier after can take time and be hassly.

STOP PRESS from the MSE team: Since this was first, rather prophetically, written it was announced that small suppliers PFP Energy and MoneyPlus Energy had gone bust, affecting roughly 89,000 customers in total, and then People's Energy and Utility Point also ceased trading, with more than half a million customers affected. Full help via the links.

10. Struggling to pay your bill, and worried you need to choose between heating and eating? There may be help available...

I am very concerned about how those on lower incomes will cope with these horrific new energy prices, especially coupled with the end of the universal credit uplift and furlough ending. It is the perfect price storm.

Emergency measures put in place due to coronavirus are still ongoing. Your supply won't be cut off - standard credit meter disconnections have been suspended, while prepayment customers can get emergency credit to ensure the lights stay on.

There are also a range of options suppliers can offer, including payment plan reviews, payment breaks or reductions. This is all done case-by-case, so contact your supplier as soon as you can if you do start to struggle and let it know if you're vulnerable.

You may also be able to apply for £140 towards bills via the 2021/22 Warm Home Discount. That rate hasn't been increased for nine years, even though energy prices are 40% higher than a year ago. You needn't be Rachel Riley to see that doesn't add up.