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

At least half a million households are connected to one of 14,000 heat networks across the UK. From April 2025, all heat network consumers will have access to an official complaints and advice service, and from 2026, new regulations will be in place to better protect those connected to a heat network. This guide explains how heating networks work and what you can do if things go wrong – now and in the future.

27 March 2025

There are now 1.5 million solar panels on homes across the UK. 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.

6 March 2025

eSims have been around for more than a decade, but it's only recently they've become more widely available in the UK. Yet most UK firms still don't fully support them. Where they really shine is if you're planning a trip abroad. We take you through what an eSim is, how you can get one and whether it'll save you any money below.

27 February 2025

Whether you're a global jet-setter, or just like taking the odd holiday, this guide will show you how to use your mobile phone abroad as cheaply as possible (and how to avoid racking up a huge bill) – particularly important as some firms have recently changed how they charge for 'roaming' in Europe.

4 February 2025

For the millions of people automatically enrolled into a workplace pension, the minimum amount you have to pay in went up in April 2019. But what your employer has to contribute increased too – effectively a hidden pay rise for many. Here's the lowdown on pension auto-enrolment.

30 January 2025

White insulating material being applied to external wall of building

Government-backed energy-efficiency measures intended to keep your home warm and lower your bills could instead be putting your property at risk of damp, mould and other serious issues. It comes after an independent body uncovered "widespread cases of poor quality" solid wall insulation fitted since 2022.

28 January 2025

A solar battery allows you to store electricity produced by your solar panels and use it later or, in some cases, sell it back to the grid to make a few quid – but they're not cheap. Read on to see if it's worth getting a solar storage battery for your home...

15 January 2025

Smart thermostats are a nifty way to control your heating on the go from your phone, tablet or other device. They're touted as a great way to save cash, but they're not cheap – so whether one will save you money depends on how you use it and what type of home you have. We've a few quick need-to-knows about how they work, then the top picks.

7 January 2025

Children in a classroom sitting at blue desks, some have their hands up asking to answer a question.

Financial education is simply about learning how money works. It's a vital life skill yet it's one many of us miss out on.

30 December 2024

Attitudes and behaviours are changing and many are opting to go greener. In normal times, switching to a green energy tariff is easy, and can also save you money. Yet the recent energy market crisis means that very few 'green' tariffs are available right now. What's more, some of the green energy claims made by suppliers are now under scrutiny. This guide explains what green energy is and why it is a hot topic for debate right now.

22 November 2024

The price most households pay for gas and electricity will rise by 1% on average from 1 January 2025 as energy regulator Ofgem has announced the latest Energy Price Cap rates.

22 November 2024

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.

23 October 2024

Changes to pension rules introduced in 2015 mean you've greater access to your pension. But you still need to be wary of pension liberation scams, which claim you can get access to your pension early. Pension liberation scammers claim they can get your money from pensions before you're 55, but the huge fees and taxes you'll pay can leave you with nowt for retirement and now scammers are targetting the over-55s as well.

22 October 2024

Toilet roll tubes that have been decorated as vampires, bats, pumpkins and other Halloween-themed characters.

Halloween can be a pricey time – and often much of what you buy ends up in the bin, charity shop bag or loft. Not very MoneySaving! But if you still want to have fun on a budget, there are lots of things you can do and make that cost nothing at all. The only rule here is no shopping – you have to use what's already in the house.

22 October 2024

Energy bills can be confusing – sometimes it's hard to decipher exactly how much you're paying. This guide explains the key items you'll find on your bill to give you more control over what you're paying and make it easier for you to switch.

1 September 2024

The Government is aiming for 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales to have a smart meter by the end of 2025. It's not compulsory to opt in to have one, but there are a few situations where you won't have a choice and your supplier will need to install smart meters. We've got the full info below, including what you can do if you don't want one.

28 August 2024