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What to do if you're struggling to pay your energy bills
Updated 3 September 2024
Energy bills are still staggeringly high, and prices for most are set to rise by a further 10% on 1 October, leaving many struggling as we head into winter. In this guide we walk you step-by-step through the support that's out there.
Step 1: If you're struggling, talk to your supplier ASAP – it HAS to help
New research from Citizens Advice shows about 5 million people are in debt to their energy supplier, and one in four people are so worried about increases in energy costs that they say they will be forced to turn off their heating and hot water this winter.
If you're falling behind with your energy bills, and finding yourself struggling to pay, the best thing to do is contact your supplier as soon as possible. Under rules from regulator Ofgem, your supplier has to help you – usually by negotiating a payment plan that you can afford.
There are a range of options suppliers could offer if you're struggling, including:
- A full payment plan review
- Affordable debt repayment plans
- Payment breaks (though this won't be right for everyone)
- Payment reductions
- More time to pay
- Access to hardship funds
What help you can get is decided on a case-by-case basis, but importantly, repayment must be based on your ability to pay. So get in touch with your supplier as soon as possible.
There are now strict rules for forced installations of prepayment meters
In November 2023, a new code was introduced for forced prepayment meters, which all suppliers must abide by. The code, which was originally voluntary, is now part of suppliers' licence conditions, making them legally enforceable. The rules include:
- A ban on forcibly installing meters for certain vulnerable customers. For households considered 'high risk', including those aged 75 or over with no support in their home, households where there is a child under two, households that need a continuous energy supply for health reasons, or those who are unable to top up meters due to a physical or mental disability.
- Vulnerability and affordability assessments before force-fitting a prepayment meter for certain homes. For households considered 'medium risk', including households with children under five years old, and those that are temporarily considered vulnerable due to being pregnant or bereaved.
If the assessment finds that you're likely to run out of credit ("self-disconnect") as a result of being switched to prepay, the firm shouldn't proceed.
- The need for 'welfare visits' to homes before installing prepayment meters. This includes if you're already on a smart credit meter and your supplier wants to switch this over to prepayment mode remotely, as well as switching out traditional meters for prepayment meters.
- Firms should make at least 10 attempts to contact you before a prepayment meter is installed. Firms must attempt to make contact over three months and at various times of day and on different days of the week, to ensure you've had an opportunity to be home.
- The wearing of body cameras during all welfare visits and when installing your prepayment meter. This means footage can be audited to ensure firms are sticking to the rules, and to help with any disputes and complaints.
- Providing alternative repayment options to help you clear your debt before suppliers fit a prepayment meter.
- Providing a £30 top-up credit to your meter if your supplier decides to install a prepayment meter. This is to remove the risk of households being left with no supply, though it will have to be repaid.
When CAN suppliers force you to get a prepayment meter?
Force-fitting prepayment meters should only be the last resort to avoid disconnecting you, and your supplier should have explored all other options to recover the debt first.
Once a supplier has exhausted all options to recover the debt, and has followed the new processes above, it can remotely switch you to a smart prepay meter, if you already have a smart meter. If you don't have a smart meter, your supplier will need to get a court warrant to force you to get a prepay meter.
If you prepay for your energy, and you find yourself struggling to top up and facing self-disconnection, there's help available from your supplier – so do contact it as soon as you start to get in trouble.
Citizens Advice estimates that 1.7 million people in Britain ran out of credit on their prepayment meter last year, and 800,000 people went more than 24 hours without gas and electricity, as they couldn't afford to top up. So make sure you are getting all the support you are entitled to.
Here's what energy firms will do:
- All suppliers offer small amounts of emergency credit. You'll usually get £5 of emergency credit on your gas and electricity meter (though some have increased this in response to the energy crisis), which you can access through your meter. The option to use it usually becomes available when you've little money left on your meter (usually about less than 50p for electricity, or £2 for gas).
How you access it depends on your meter, either by inserting your key/card or clicking a button when the option pops up – your supplier will be able to tell you how it works for your meter. You will need to pay this back when you next top up.
- 'Friendly credit' means you can't be cut off at certain times if your meter runs out. Friendly credit is there to protect you if you start running out of credit when the shops are closed. It means you won't be cut off, and can keep using gas and electricity if you run out of credit during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Times can vary by supplier and season, but generally, you won't be cut off between about 6pm and 9am Monday to Saturday, all day Sunday, and on bank holidays. You'll need to pay back anything you've used during this time the next time you top up.
- Additional support credit is available to some if you can't afford to top up. If you can't afford to top up and you're facing self-disconnection through being unable to keep enough money on the meter, you may be able to get additional support credit (or extra support credit). What you can get, how this works and if you're eligible will depend on your supplier, so speak to it as soon as possible.
In general, additional support credit is usually for those in vulnerable situations (such as those of state pension age, or with a disability or long-term medical condition). It's also up to the supplier to assess how much additional credit you'll get and to work with you to come up with a repayment plan, based on your ability to pay.
But even if you're not in a vulnerable situation, your supplier could still help if you're unable to top up. It may still be able to offer support credit, or can review any debts you may be paying off through your meter, or give you access to hardship funds. It's all done on a case-by-case basis, so do get in touch with your supplier as soon as possible.
What's more, regulator Ofgem has strengthened protections for prepayment customers, requiring suppliers to proactively identify and contact customers that have self-disconnected due to being unable to afford to top up. This includes support for repaying any outstanding standing charges.
The Priority Services Register is a free support service operated by energy suppliers and network operators (the firms that own the pipes and wires). It offers a range of services to help people in vulnerable situations, for example, if you've reached state pension age, or you have a long-term medical condition, or have children under five (see full eligibility below).
The help you can get includes:
- Advance notice of planned power cuts. If you rely on energy supply for medical reasons, your network operator will inform you of planned power cuts.
- Priority support in an emergency. Network operators can provide you with heating and cooking facilities during unexpected power cuts.
- Identification and password scheme. To reassure you that energy and network employees are genuine, they can arrange checks such as a particular password or picture card if they need to visit you.
- Nominee schemes. You can nominate someone to receive communications and bills from your supplier.
- Help with prepayment meter access. For example, suppliers could move your meter if you can't access it easily to top up.
- Regular meter reading services. If you can't easily read the meter yourself, or nobody else can.
- Accessible information. For example, account info and bills in large print or Braille.
A dedicated website has been launched to make it easier to be added to the Priority Services Register. You no longer need to ask your supplier to do this for you. There are several ways you can register, including an online form, by email or by calling 0800 169 9970, as well as messaging via WhatsApp, Facebook or Twitter.
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Step 2: Check if you qualify for government support
In this section we'll look at the specific, short-lived cost-of-living support that's being made available by the Government.
It's worth having a good rummage around here, as in some cases the help you can access will depend on your specific circumstances. Exactly what you can get depends on factors including whether you're on certain benefits or whether you're a pensioner. Check what you could benefit from, including:
Energy efficiency can seriously cut bills, and there are wads of freebies on offer from energy providers under the Energy Company Obligation scheme. It's all part of their efficiency obligations to people in certain groups.
If you're on certain benefits, you could get free insulation or a grant to replace an old boiler. The Government also expanded the eligibility criteria for free insulation in 2023, meaning you don't necessarily need to be on benefits to take advantage of the scheme. Our Great British Insulation Scheme guide has more on what's available, but below there is a taster of what you can get and what it'll save you:
- Cavity wall insulation. Most homes built since 1920 have a gap between internal and external walls. Filling the cavity with insulating mineral wool and foam means cold air's kept out, and warm air stays in, which can save up to £370/year.
- Loft insulation. Up to a quarter of your home's heat escapes through the roof, but you can solve this by putting insulating mineral wool in the loft space, saving up to £340/year.
- Boiler replacement or repair. Heating accounts for about 55% of what you spend in a year on energy bills. Depending on your boiler's age and the size of your house, a shiny new efficient one could save you up to £430/year.
For more advice on energy efficiency and help to find any schemes you are eligible for, try the Government's energy efficiency website, the Energy Saving Trust or Home Energy Scotland.
Household Support Fund
Under the Household Support Fund, councils in England have access to additional funding of £421 million, plus a further £79 million across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to help those most in need.
Local authorities can spend the cash until 31 March 2025 (the fund was originally set to end in March 2024 but has been extended for a second time), to support the most vulnerable with essentials and the fund is aimed at providing small grants to meet daily needs, such as energy bills, as well as other utilities, housing and food costs.
Eligibility varies, as it's up to councils to decide, but generally the grant is for vulnerable households, and those in most need of support. To find out what your council offers and whether you might qualify for support, and to apply, contact your council as soon as you can, as funding could run out at any time.
Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis Grant
If you’re on a a low income or getting certain benefits, you may be able to apply for a Crisis Grant (part of the Scottish Welfare Fund) through your local council, to help with food or heating costs.
Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales
The Welsh Government's Discretionary Assistance Fund offers the Emergency Assistance Payment to help pay for essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel, and the The Individual Assistance Payment to help you or someone you care to buy ‘white goods' or home furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs.
You can check if you're eligible and how to apply through the Welsh Government website.
The Warm Home Discount scheme is available to millions of households in the UK. It requires suppliers with more than 1,000 customers to help vulnerable people pay for their energy over winter.
If you've a standard credit meter, the money isn't paid to you – it's a £150 rebate applied to your electricity or gas bill between October and March. If you're on a prepay meter, you'll usually be sent a top-up voucher.
Following changes to how the Warm Home Discount works, the scheme is now different in England and Wales from that in Scotland. If you live in England or Wales, you'll get the discount automatically if you meet the eligibility criteria. In Scotland, you'll only get it automatically if you receive the 'guarantee credit' element of Pension Credit.
You can find out full details about eligibility and how to apply in our Warm Home Discount guide.
Some UK pensioner households will be entitled to help towards their energy costs under the Government's Winter Fuel Payment scheme. It's between £200 and £300 and is usually paid automatically to eligible pensioners or pensioner households.
The Government has now announced a major change to the scheme. Where previously all households with someone at state pension age would be eligible, from winter 2024/25, it'll be restricted to only those on certain benefits or Pension Credit.
How Winter Fuel Payments are changing in England, Scotland Wales
Starting this winter (2024/25), if you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you'll only be able to get a Winter Fuel Payment if you're:
- Over State Pension age; AND
- Receiving one of the following benefits:
- Income Support;
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance;
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance;
- Pension Credit; or
- Universal Credit.
If eligible, you'll get up to £300, depending on your circumstances. Though it's worth noting you'll still get less than last year, as over the last few winters, the Government has given an extra £300 cost of living top-up on the Winter Fuel Payment – and this has now ended.
Winter fuel payments – how much could you get in 2024/25?
| If between 16 and 22 September 2024 you: | Born between 23 Sep 1944 and 22 Sep 1958 | Born on or before 22 Sep 1944 |
| You live alone (or none of the people you lived qualify). | £200 | £300 |
| You live with a partner under 80 and jointly claim any of the eligible benefits. | £200 - only one of you will get this | £300 - only one of you will get this |
| You live with a partner 80 or over and jointly claim any of the eligible benefits. |
£300 - only one of you will get this |
£300 - only one of you will get this |
| You lived in a care home for less than 13 weeks, including the week of 16 to 22 September 2024. | £200 | £300 |
For more info, including Martin's full reaction, see Winter Fuel Payment is changing.
Under the Cold Weather Payment scheme, older people and those on certain benefits in England and Wales can get a grant to help cover costs when temperatures hit zero degrees or below in their area.
It applies if the average temperature is – or is forecast to be – 0°C or below for seven days in a row between 1 November and 31 March. You get £25 for each seven-day period. It's usually automatic if you get Pension Credit, or get other benefits including some Universal Credit recipients and some who get support for mortgage interest. See our full Cold Weather Payment guide for more info.
Households in Scotland get £59 regardless of weather conditions
In 2022, the Scottish Government replaced the Cold Weather Payment scheme with the Winter Heating Payment scheme. Under this, eligible households will receive a flat £58.75 (2024/25) to help towards winter heating costs.
The payment will be made automatically between December and January each year, so you don't need to do anything to get one. You need to be receiving one of these benefits, during the qualifying week: 4 to 10 November 2024. Social Security Scotland will confirm by letter if you're due the £58.75 payment.
Step 3: Find out how energy firms and others may be able to help you
Here we'll talk you through the existing support that's out there from energy firms and other groups, including some of the main energy schemes that you can tap into for help. You'll find info on the following:
Big energy firms have charitable trusts and funds that can help if you're in debt and struggling to repay.
With these providers you'll usually need to be a customer of the firm to apply, but British Gas offers help to non-customers as well. The application process for this help is fairly rigorous (see charities that can help with the process). You usually need to have spoken to a debt adviser before applying, complete a full income and expenditure budget sheet, provide proof of your income, give details on how your arrears have built up, and say how the grant will help you.
Exact eligibility requirements vary – some say you need to be in receipt of certain benefits, for example – but those with the greatest need are prioritised on a case-by-case basis. It can take several weeks to process your claim and funds are limited, so act now.
Hardship grants offered by energy suppliers – and how to apply
| Supplier scheme | Key eligibility criteria | How much you could get | How to apply |
Open to customers of ALL suppliers |
|||
 British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Families Fund |
- In or facing fuel poverty - See full info on the British Gas website |
Up to £2,000 | Via the British Gas website |
Open to customers of the named suppliers ONLY |
|||
British Gas Energy Trust |
- Have electric and/or gas debt between £250 and £2,000 - Can't have had a British Gas grant in the past 12 months - You've received help from a money advice service - See full info on the British Gas website |
Up to £2,000 | Via the British Gas website |
 EDF Energy Customer Support Fund |
- Experiencing hardship, or struggling to manage energy debt - You've received help from a money advice service |
No set limit – depends on your circumstances | Via the 'Let's Talk' web form (1) |
 E.on Next Energy Fund Also open to customers of: Sainsbury's Energy |
- Experiencing financial hardship and struggling to manage energy debt - See full info on the E.on Next website |
No set limit – depends on your circumstances | Via the 'Let's Talk' web form (1) |
 Octopus Energy Octo Assist Fund Also open to customers of: Affect Energy, Co-operative Energy, Ebico Living, London Power |
- No specific eligibility criteria - See full info on the Octopus website |
No set limit – depends on your circumstances | Via a Paylink account |
TABLE_CELL_STYLE
Ovo Energy Hardship Scheme
|
- Experiencing hardship, or struggling to manage energy debt - See more info on the Ovo website |
Varies depending on need and funds available | Call Ovo on 0330 303 5063 or apply via it's web form. |
 Scottish Power Hardship Fund |
- In receipt of: Income Support, jobseeker's allowance, Pension Credit, or employment and support allowance - You need to contact a recognised debt advice agency first - See full info on the Scottish Power website |
Varies depending on need and funds available | Via Scottish Power's web form or by phone on 0121 285 2595 |
Helping Hand Fund |
- Have an old non-smart legacy meter - Can't have had a grant from the Helping Hand Fund in the last three years - See full info on Utilita's website. TABLE_CELL_STYLE |
No set limit – depends on your circumstances | Via Utilita's online application form |
 Utility Warehouse Hardship Fund |
- In fuel poverty, or about to go into energy debt or run out of prepay credit - See full info on the Utility Warehouse website |
Varies depending on need and funds available | Call Utility Warehouse on 0333 777 3215 |
Last updated: August 2024. (1) 'Let's Talk' is part of 'Charis', an organisation that helps support those in utility debt.
Use this free tool to find a place to keep warm
With energy prices extremely high, it's even more expensive just to keep warm when the temperature falls. Living in cold conditions can be dangerous and even deadly, with people with disabilities, elderly people, children, people from ethnic minorities, and low-income households among the most at risk.
We give tips on how to keep warm in our Heat the human guide, but if you're really struggling, local organisations and churches have opened their doors following efforts from councils, organisations and charities wanting to help. See Martin's blog post.
Warm Welcome has a dedicated site to help you find a space in your local community to keep warm. It details location, opening hours and facilities provided via the link below.
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Step 4: Find out where to go for free one-on-one advice and wider debt help
There are a number of organisations and charities out there that can provide one-on-one support and advice. We've focused on the main ones that operate nationwide, but there could be more local support offered by regional charities and your local authority too.
All of the organisations below can help with common energy issues and problems, including providing info on your options if you're struggling to pay, the government grants and schemes available, help accessing hardship funds, and general ways to reduce your energy use. Yet some do specialise in certain areas.
Important: Bear in mind that these organisations are very busy right now, and have limited resources – Citizens Advice, for example, says it's seen a 40% uplift year-on-year in people needing support due to energy debt issues. So please be patient and polite.
Energy help and grant specialists
The charities below offer help and advice on most energy bill problems if you're struggling to pay, including help with finding government grants and schemes you might be eligible for, help applying for support through energy suppliers' charitable trusts, and help with complaints.
- National Energy Action (NEA). The NEA is a national fuel poverty and energy efficiency charity that offers a free support service known as WASH (Warm and Safe Homes). It provides energy advice to households in England and Wales. You can contact it on 0800 304 7159, or fill in an online form.
It offers advice on income maximisation, energy billing, fuel debt, energy efficiency and trust fund applications.
Due to the ongoing crisis, the charity is very busy, which is why back in 2022, MSE founder Martin Lewis funded £100,000 for it to set up a webchat service to help more people, which launched its webchat service in April 2022.
- Home Energy Scotland. A non-profit organisation backed by the Scottish Government that offers free, practical advice and info on energy in Scotland. You can call it on 0808 808 2282 or contact it online.
It says as well as offering impartial advice on energy saving and reducing bills, it'll check your eligibility for funding options including Scottish Government grants and interest-free loans.
- NI Energy Advice. This service offers impartial energy advice for those in Northern Ireland. You can contact it via its online form or by calling 0800 111 4455.
- New platform Lightning Reach lets you know what grants you might be eligible for, and helps you apply. It'll also point you in the direction of other financial support, such as benefits, you might qualify for too.
- Charity-run website Turn2us has an easy-to-use grant search which tells you how to contact any suitable charities directly, or you can register for a free account to send online enquiries and applications to charities through the site.
If you're struggling with more than just your energy bills
While the organisations below offer help for all types of energy problems, their main aim is helping with budgeting and debt. So if you find yourself in energy arrears, or your problems stretch beyond energy, these might be best.
- Citizens Advice. If you're in England or Wales, you can speak to a trained adviser on 0808 223 1133 or fill in an online form and they'll respond by email. If you're in Scotland, you'll need to speak to your local Citizens Advice Bureau. You can also get help from a local advice agency if you're in Northern Ireland.
It says it can help with most energy problems and it can also refer you to its extra help unit – which can provide dedicated support to people in vulnerable situations to resolve problems with energy firms.
- StepChange. A charity that provides free debt advice to people in England, Scotland and Wales. You can contact it on 0800 138 1111 or get online debt advice.
It can work with you to develop a personalised plan to make repayments, set up and manage a debt management plan for you, or even help with ways to write off debts if you're unable to pay.
- MoneyHelper. Sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions, it provides free, impartial and confidential money guidance to anyone in the UK. You can contact it on 0800 138 7777, or via webchat, email or WhatsApp.
As well as personalised advice and guidance on money issues, including energy bills and how to prioritise debt, it can help you find a free and confidential debt adviser in your area.
- National Debt Line. A debt charity that gives free independent advice to people in England, Scotland and Wales. You can talk to it via webchat or by calling 0808 808 4000.
It has a free budget tool and can help you work out a debt management plan.
Specialist help for older people
While older people can use the services above, Age UK can offer more specialised support.
- Age UK. A leading charity, it says it can help any older person or those entitled to claim benefits. You can contact it by phone or online, but the number depends on where you live:
- In England: 0800 678 1602
- In Scotland: 0300 303 44 98
- In Wales: 0300 303 44 98
- In Northern Ireland: 0800 12 44 222
Age UK is urging older people to contact it before turning their heating off or down. It says it can check if people are receiving all the support available to them, point people towards more help for heating their home, and provide guidance on billing, meters and complaints.
Specialist energy support for disabled people
If you have a disability, as well as the organisations above, you can also get additional help from Scope.
- Scope. A disability equality charity, it offers free energy advice to disabled people in England and Wales. You can contact it on 0808 801 0828 or email it.
Through its disability energy support scheme, it can offer advice on a range of issues, including managing debt, efficiency, accessing benefits, grants and trusts, access to fuel vouchers, understanding bills and support with registering for the Priority Services Register.
- Disability Information Scotland. If you live in Scotland, Disability Information Scotland can provide similar help. You can contact it on 0300 323 9961 or email it.
For more generalised help if you're struggling with debt, see our full Debt help guide.
Community support groups
For a lot of people, a place to talk to others in similar situations and share ideas is really important, which is why community support groups on social media are thriving. While we can't vouch for every piece of information, these groups often have knowledgeable users – some with industry experience – sharing information, so can be very useful.
Step 5: Know your rights
It's crucial that you're aware of your rights at this difficult time, especially around some really serious issues such as having your energy supply cut off, and being able to get a breather from your debts. Find full info on:
The Government's breathing space scheme – officially known as the Debt Respite Scheme – can relieve some of the pressures and stress of being in debt.
If you pass eligibility, your creditors are informed and must stop collection or enforcement activity, and won't be able to add interest or fees to your debt for up to 60 days.
Debt charity StepChange has full info on eligibility, and can take you through the application process.
If you're struggling to pay for your energy and you're on certain benefits, you may be able to pay directly from your benefit payments instead, under a Government scheme known as Fuel Direct (also known as 'third party deductions'). The scheme lets you arrange to have a small, fixed amount deducted directly from your benefit payments each week to go towards paying off energy debt.
To use the scheme, you need to contact your Jobcentre (or Pension Centre if you are claiming Pension Credit) and give them details of your supplier and what you owe. Your Jobcentre or Pension Centre will then get in contact with your provider.
How much will be taken depends on which benefit scheme the payment is deducted from:
- If you claim Universal Credit. A fixed rate of 5% of your entitlement can be deducted and paid directly to your supplier for gas and electricity (and water).
- For other benefits. A set amount of £4.55 will be directly deducted each week to pay off the debt you owe, plus an additional amount to cover your ongoing usage. For example, if you use £5 of energy a week, a total of £9.55 will be deducted directly from your benefits.
Be aware though, if the set amount to cover your debt and the additional sum for your ongoing usage comes to less than 25% of your total benefits, the payment to your supplier can be set up without your permission. So be sure before you apply. You can use the Fuel Direct scheme with income-based jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance, Income Support and Pension Credit.
There are very strict rules for disconnection and suppliers very rarely disconnect people due to debt.
Firms must take all reasonable steps to avoid disconnecting an energy supply for debt, and it should always be a last resort. Suppliers cannot disconnect you if you:
- Owe a debt to a previous supplier
- Are bankrupt and the energy debt is from before you were bankrupt
- Owe a debt for a service or appliance from a supplier, and not for your gas or electricity usage
What's more, if it's during winter (between October and March), you can't be disconnected if you have reached state pension age and live on your own, or live with children under the age of 18.
Most suppliers have also voluntarily agreed never to disconnect you, at any time of year, if you have children under the age of six, are disabled, have long-term health problems or have severe financial problems. They also won't disconnect you during winter if you have children under the age of 16.
If you are struggling with your bills and you find your provider won't help, or you experience any of the other common problems faced by energy customers, such as incorrect bills, switching issues, Direct Debits being too high, refund delays and more, then complain.
Remember to try calling your provider to sort the issue first, but if not then you can use free complaints tool Resolver. The tool helps you manage your complaint, and if the company doesn't play ball, it also helps you escalate your complaint to the free Energy Ombudsman.
Suppliers will sometimes use prepayment meters as a way of recovering debts – but only as a last resort. However, regulator Ofgem has introduced a new code of practice, designed to better protect customers and reduce the need for prepayment meters to be installed. We've more info on who can and can't have a forced prepayment meter installation and under what circumstances.
Step 6: Read our energy cost-cutting tips
There are small changes you can make that can have a huge impact on your energy use and how much you end up paying, which we go into here, as well as more ways to reduce other household bills, including:
Most can't save any other way, so using less can really pay off and is simple to do (unless you're already using the minimum, in which case, read on).
Turn down the thermostat and wear jumpers, turn lights off when you leave a room, take shorter showers, use energy-saving light bulbs and don't leave electrical goods on standby.
For more info, see our top energy-saving tips, or read the MSE Forum's Energy Saving Hunt.
According to experts at the Energy Saving Trust, the idea it's cheaper to leave the heating on low all day is a myth. They're clear that having the heating on only when you need it is, in the long run, the best way to save energy and therefore money. (A timer's best, as your thermostat turns your heating on and off to keep your home at the temperature you set.)
For full info and answers to other energy-saving myths, see our full Energy mythbusting guide.
Don't rely on your energy provider's estimate, as these are often way out. If it's underbilling you, you'll have a big whack to pay when your supplier receives your actual meter reading. If it's overbilling, then it's unfairly got your cash.
If your Direct Debit is way off kilter, call up and ask for it to be changed. You have a range of rights to ensure it's correct. See our Energy Direct Debits guide for full help.
Smart meters can help stop this as they send meter readings automatically to your supplier, so you only pay for what you use. See our Smart meters guide for more.
Paying by monthly Direct Debit can cut bills by about £100 each year on average, as companies are sure you won't default and they earn interest on any overpayments. So if you can do this, go for it.
See our Energy Direct Debits guide for full help.
Check your bills NOW as you could save £100s on broadband, mobiles, fuel, food and more by systematically working through your finances to ensure you've the best deal on everything.
This could really help mitigate the pain of the energy price hikes, with many people saving £1,000s over the year. We've full help in our Money makeover guide.
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Chase cuts rate on popular 5.1% boosted saver – should you ditch and switch?
13 August 2024![]( "2150786737")
Chase has cut the rates on its linked easy-access 'boosted saver' and standard saver accounts by 0.25 percentage points. -
NS&I launches new British Savings Bonds paying up to 4.6% if you lock your cash away – but how do they stack up?
13 August 2024![]()
NS&I has refreshed its range of fixed-term 'British Savings Bonds' by adding a two-year option paying 4.6% and a five-year option paying 4.1%. And its three-year bond will now pay newbies 4.35% (up from 4.15%). Here's how they stack up.
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Martin Lewis on pension credit: What over-66s need to know
30 July 2024![]()
Nearly a million pensioners are missing out on pension credit, a vital benefit worth £1,000s a year for many, which tops up your income. -
When will your student loan be written off, cancelled, or paid off?
19 July 2024![]()
It’s a question I’m asked all the time. Many know that current students no longer need to repay their loans 30 years after the April following graduation, yet for those who started university before 2012, there are a variety of options. This information has been a long-term part of my Should I repay my student loan? guide (where...
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