Clare Casalis

Senior Energy & Utilities Analyst

Clare joined MSE in September 2021 after a career as a chartered accountant. She started out as a writer on MSE's Money team, exploring everything from student loans to pensions, before moving across to the Energy and Utilities team in November 2022.

As Senior Energy and Utilities Analyst, Clare is responsible for the quarterly Price Cap updates to our guides, and the daily updates to our popular Should I fix my energy? guide, which explains if it's worth fixing your energy tariff, as well showing the current energy deals available. Clare also helps out on the Cheap Energy Club.

Clare has written several new guides, including Heat pumps explained, Is solar battery storage worth it?, How to switch your energy and, most recently, Winter Fuel Payments.

Outside of work, Clare's passionate about travel and embarks on global adventures with her family as often as she can (on a budget of course!). She also loves running and yoga to keep a healthy body and mind.

Latest from Clare Casalis

There is a potentially unbeatable opportunity everyone aged 40 to 73(ish) needs to consider. If you're missing national insurance credits, you can buy back up to six years. This can be prove very lucrative, as some are on course to make over £50,000 in boosts to their State Pension by following this guide.

14 April 2026

£1 coins lying on top of 'HM Revenue and Customs' headed letters.

14 April 2026

Average annual energy bills will fall by 7% on 1 July for those on standard price-capped tariffs (most households). But should you stay on the Price Cap, or move to a fixed deal? We've help to decide if fixing is right for you, plus analysis of the tariffs we've spotted...

14 April 2026

If you've got solar panels, make sure you have a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff [SHOULD WE IF YOUVE HAD THE MINSTALLED FROM 2020/AFTER JAN 2020?]. It lets you earn money by exporting excess electricity you generate back to the grid. But not all SEG rates are equal – some energy suppliers offer far better rates than others, so it's key you get the best deal.

14 April 2026

While energy costs are down from the horrifying levels we saw during the energy crisis, many are still struggling to pay their bills. Cutting energy use is a one key way to save. We've rounded up a full list of tips to help, including simple changes to your boiler and appliance settings, mixed in with some thrifty crowd-sourced wisdom.

14 April 2026

Energy suppliers are again offering tariffs aimed at electric vehicle owners. If you're one of the million EV owners in the UK, should you go for one? This guide helps you decide if they're worth it.

14 April 2026

There are now more than 1.5 million homes across the UK with solar panels. As well as saving you money on energy bills, solar panels can earn you cash. And don't worry, they can still generate electricity on gloomy days, vital when the weather's as dull as dishwater. But they cost an average of £7,000, so you need to understand how to work out if the sums add up.

13 April 2026

Maternity and paternity leave: your rights and pay

When you're having a baby there's a lot to prepare for – as well as nappy changes and night feeds, you have to get your head around the rights that you and your partner (if you have one) have at work. Whether you or your partner is pregnant, you're using a surrogate or adopting, this guide explains what you're entitled to before having a baby, during leave and beyond.

6 April 2026

If before reaching state pension age, you care (or cared) for a young family member while the child's parents were at work, there's a little-known credit that could boost your state pension by £1,000s. These credits work by filling in gaps you may have in your national insurance record, which is what dictates your state pension amount. This step-by-step guide tells you how to check if you qualify and how to apply if so.

6 April 2026

Having children is expensive – the first year alone could reportedly cost a family in the UK an average of £6,000. But some parents can get a maternity grant worth at least £500 from the Government, no strings attached, to help with the cost. Plus, you may also qualify for help towards the cost of your food bill.

6 April 2026

The State Pension was increased by 4.1% in April 2025. Most of us will receive some State Pension from the Government when we retire, but it's a complicated system, so understanding what you're entitled to is important. This guide will explain:

6 April 2026

You don't have to take your state pension when you hit state pension age, currently age 66. If you defer it, you'll get paid a higher amount when you do decide to claim – up to 5.8% a year more in fact. But you'll receive it for a shorter time. Whether it adds up for you will depend on how long you are likely to live and your income, so here's what you need to consider.

6 April 2026

Have you taken some taxable money from your pension for the first time? If so, you could be one of thousands of people due back £1,000s or even £10,000s in overpaid tax. And while you will be refunded any overpayment automatically by the end of the tax year, it still leaves you temporarily out of pocket – in some cases by up to 12 months. This guide talks you through whether you've overpaid and, if so, how to get your money back sooner.

6 April 2026

1 April 2026

The Energy Price Cap, which controls what most households pay for energy, will fall by 7% on average on 1 July, meaning the vast majority in England, Scotland and Wales will see their bills go down. What YOU PAY depends on your usage, how you pay and where you live. Use the calculator in this guide to estimate how much YOU'LL pay.

1 April 2026

With the cold weather payment, you can get £25 to help with heating bills for each seven-day period of freezing weather during winter. We've full info below on who can get it, how to apply, and how to check if you're due a payment.

1 April 2026