Almost half of us cutting back on energy  – survey finds

If you’re holding back with your energy usage, you’re not alone.

According to MoneySuperMarket, 49% of households are limiting energy use as the Ofgem price cap rises to £1,758 in January.

Here’s what a survey of 2,000 people found:

• 45% of us have delayed switching the heating on this winter compared to last year
• more than half say the cost of living has worsened over the past year
• nearly a third have already made cutbacks
• 1 in 10 households have argued over heating levels
• 6% believe someone became ill because their home was too cold

Rising costs aren’t just affecting heating, they’re putting a damper on the festive season too:

• 1 in 4 say the cost of living has taken the excitement out of Christmas
• 10% are dreading the holidays due to money worries
• 71% are actively cutting costs this festive season, with food and drink being the biggest targets:
• 29% plan to buy less
• over half have switched to cheaper brands or supermarkets
• Households are also scaling back gifts and decorations:
• 13% will skip presents
• 12% are reducing or cancelling Christmas lights

So, what can you do to keep your energy bills under control this winter?

Look for fixed deals

The energy price cap applies to households on standard variable tariffs, which are the default tariffs for customers who haven’t switched to a fixed-rate deal. 

So it could be worth moving to a fixed deal, so you’ll be protected from price hikes until your fixed term ends.

It also means you won’t have to worry about checking the price cap every three months, and you’ll have more certainty over what you’ll have to pay each month.

Submit a meter reading to make sure you’re being charged correctly

If you don’t have a smart meter, your supplier has to estimate how much energy you’ve used when they’re working out your bill.

So it’s worth submitting a meter reading to make sure you’re only charged for what you’ve actually used. 

Otherwise, you could end up paying too much if your usage is lower than estimated.

Speak to your supplier

If you’re struggling to keep up with your bills, contact your supplier. 

They might be able to offer:

• grants
• payment plans
• advice on managing your account

It could also be worth joining the Priority Services Register for extra support.

Apply for the household support fund 

You may be able to get extra help with energy costs and food through your local council via the household support fund (HSF).

See if you can get a fuel voucher

If you’re using a prepayment meter and struggling to top up, you may be able to get a fuel voucher. 

Contact:

• your local council
• a food bank
• Citizens Advice

Find out what other benefits you could claim

You might already be eligible for support such as the warm home discount or winter fuel payments.

But it’s still worth seeing what other help is available, such as:

• housing benefit
• council tax discount
• free TV licence if over 75 

Try our free benefits calculator to find out if you’re getting all the support you’re entitled to receive. 

Or give us a call and we’ll have a look for you.

Try to save energy

Small steps such as turning down your thermostat by one degree, not overfilling the kettle and bleeding your radiators could help you cut your energy usage - and in turn, bring your bills down.

We’ve put together a list of 50 smart energy-saving tips to help you get started.