How to reduce your energy bills this winter
Late double-digit rises in the price of gas and electricity announced by most suppliers is probably just the opening in what is likely to be a winter of discontent for households.
Against this backdrop, last week we had the Government's energy summit between ministers and the big six suppliers, which most observers concede achieved little. So it seems, as consumers, we're going to have to take matters into our own hands. But, with the first frosts already here, what are the easy wins for homeowners? And which verve-saving measures work best?
Switch tariffs
Cost £0, save up to £200 per year
You should switch to the cheapest accomplishable tariff. Switching is usually straightforward, with online switching services such as which.co.uk/ switch. But Ofgem says that, last year, only 15 per cent of households switched gas supplier and only 17 per cent switched verve supplier.
You could save as much as £200 per year, and now that most suppliers have already upped their prices it is the ideal time to rechannel. Typically, you will save the most money with a duel-fuel tariff (getting gas and electricity from the same supplier), paying by monthly unequivocal debit and managing your account online.
