Are you worried about your energy bills rising? It doesn't take long to check if you're on the best tariff and whether you could save money by using your gas and electricity more efficiently. Plus, find the help available if you miss a payment.

Best ways to save on gas and electricity

Pay by Direct Debit

It’s usually cheaper to pay by Direct Debit and means you won’t have to worry about missing payments.

Use less

It sounds obvious, but the less energy you use the lower your bills will be. There are plenty of tips and tricks you can use to cut your use. We’ve listed some below.

In recent months it’s gas prices that have risen the most. If you can cut back on using gas powered appliances and heating, this is where you can make the biggest savings. Some of our electricity is made using gas, so any way you can reduce your energy usage will save you money.

Here are some quick ideas to help you cut back: 

• Close your curtains and use draft excluders to stop heat escaping.
• Use your washing machine or dishwasher at a lower temperature, or run them on the ‘eco’ setting – and avoid putting the washing on when you don’t have a full load.
• Get into the habit of switching lights off when you leave a room and switching electrical items off instead of leaving them on standby. 

Make your home more energy efficient

Spending a little to save a lot is a good investment – especially if you don’t have to spend your own money.

There are lots of grants available to help with things like:

• improving your insulation
• upgrading your boiler and appliances
• installing solar panels or other renewable technologies
• even without a grant, some of these investments will pay back what you’ve spent quite quickly. They’ll then start saving you money

Can I save money if I have a prepayment meter?

A prepayment meter works like a ‘pay-as-you-go’ tariff for gas or electricity. You need to pay for energy before you can use it.

That means putting money directly into your meter, using an electric or gas meter key, tokens or, in some cases, topping up online.

The main benefit of prepayment meters is that you won’t spend more than you have. But it’s also one of the most expensive ways of buying energy.

Struggling to pay your energy bills?

Not being able to afford to heat or power your home can be worrying. However, there is help available if you’re struggling.

It’s important to get in touch with your supplier to ask for help before you miss a payment.

If you’re struggling with money or repaying a debt, options include:

• reviewing bill payment plans, including debt you might be repaying in instalments
• payment breaks, or reductions in how much you pay
• having longer to repay what you owe
• access to hardship funds – this is only in exceptional cases.

If you pay for your energy after you’ve used it, you have a credit meter. Credit meters won’t be disconnected during the coronavirus crisis.

For more useful information on how to save on gas & electric bills, please view the full article here.