Are you paying more for your energy bills than you have to?

With the energy price cap set at a hefty £1,849 a year, bills are sky-high.

Over 5.3 million people have fallen behind on payments, so if your bills feel painful, you're not alone.

The last thing you want is to be paying more than you need to because of easy-to-avoid mistakes.

Here's how to make sure you're not wasting money on your energy bills.

Are you making the most of Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariffs?

If you're on an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff, when you use electricity matters just as much as how much you use.

• Economy 7 gives you 7 hours of cheaper electricity overnight, typically from midnight to 7am (though it can vary).
• Economy 10 offers 10 off-peak hours, usually 7 at night and 3 during the day.

These tariffs can save you money, if you’re using appliances like storage heaters or charging an elective vehicle during off-peak hours.

But if most of your usage happens during the day, these tariffs can actually cost you more than a standard plan.

In fact, if you’re not using your energy during the cheaper hours, you could be paying up to £219 more a year, according to energy experts at Uswitch.

It’s also worth knowing that if you have an older Economy 7 meter that uses the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), it’ll stop working after 1 July 2025.

If this might affect you, speak to your supplier now.

If you’re thinking about switching to an Economy 7 or Economy 10 tariff, use a site like GoCompare to shop around to find the best deal.

Are you giving regular meter readings?

If you don’t have a smart meter and don’t send in your readings, your supplier will estimate your usage. That could mean:

• you pay too much now
• or too little and get stung with a big catch-up bill later

Call your supplier to give them the readings or check if you can submit them on their website or app.

Citizens Advice provides details on how to take a meter reading.

Are you wasting energy without realising it?

When it comes to using energy, little things can quickly add up.

There are lots of ways you can save on energy.

Here are a few quick energy-saving wins:

• use a washing-up bowl instead of running the tap
• cook with an air fryer or microwave instead of the oven
• close your curtains at night to keep heat in
• turn down the thermostat by just 1°C
• fill the dishwasher before you put it on
• don’t overfill a kettle, only boil what you need

What help is available if you’re struggling with energy debt?

If you’re struggling with energy debt, there is lots of help and support available.

First, you should:

Contact your energy supplier

Speak to your supplier. Energy companies are obliged to help if you’re struggling to pay. What support they offer will depend on your provider, but they could offer:

• affordable repayment plans
• temporary payment breaks
• prepayment meter adjustments to allow smaller, manageable top-ups
• write off the debt

If you're vulnerable (due to age, disability, or health conditions), you should also join the free Priority Services Register for additional support.

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free service that provides extra support to people who need help with their energy supply. By joining, you could benefit from extra support during power cuts or help to make your billing more understandable.

You could be eligible if you’re disabled, have a long term medical condition, a mental health condition, communication needs or are pregnant.

Check to see if you can sign up at PSR.

Energy grants and help

Lots of energy suppliers offer grants to help pay off debts. For example:

• British Gas Energy Trust provides help with energy bills, financial hardship among other things. It’s also open to non-customers too.
• E.ON Next Energy Fund provides financial aid and appliance replacement to customers struggling with energy bills.
• EDF Customer Support Fund offers grants, appliance replacement and advice to customers facing financial hardship.

Check your supplier's website to find out how they can support you.