HOUSEHOLDS will see energy costs jump by 2% or £35 a year in October but there are plenty of ways to help cushion the blow.
The typical household energy bill is to rise to £1,755 a year from when regulator Ofgem’s new price cap takes effect in the autumn.
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The energy regulator sets the maximum amount providers can charge an average household, changing this limit every three months, largely based on the cost of energy on wholesale markets.
The expansion of support for vulnerable households has nudged up the latest cap while wholesale prices for electricity and gas have been volatile, as a result of global politics including US trade policies.
However, there are plenty of ways to save on energy bills.
We explain how to cash in..
Read more on energy bills
Benefit check – £475
Depending on which benefits you’re on, you might be eligible for extra help towards bills so make sure you are claiming everything you’re entitled to.
For example, those claiming Pension Credit will automatically get the a Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £300.
The Warm Home Discount also helps struggling households and is worth £150 which is deducted from bills.
It is paid to households claiming the following benefits:
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit and Universal Credit
The Cold Weather Payment is worth another £25 and kicks in each time temperatures dip over a seven-day stretch.
You usually qualify when temperatures drop and if you’re on certain benefits. These are:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
Use a benefits calculator to help check for money you are entitled to, and make sure you don’t miss out on the extra help for bills.
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Or try Entitledto’s free calculator which determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
Energy grants – £1,700
Millions of households can apply for free energy grants worth up to £1,700.
Families who have fallen behind on their gas and electricity bills qualify for help.
The British Gas Individual and Families Fund is open to prepayment meter customers who are between £50 and £1,700 in energy debt – and you don’t necessarily need to be a British Gas customer.
The energy firm has urged eligible households to get in touch.
There are some other terms to take into account.
For example, you must have a household income of less than £18,723 or someone in the home must be registered disabled and receiving a disability benefit.
Jessica Taplin, chief executive officer of the British Gas Energy Trust, which runs the fund, said: “Unlike customers who pay by direct debit, those on prepayment meters often see their debts taken immediately from any credit they add.
“That means they can run out of energy more quickly, and risk slipping into a cycle of debt that’s much harder to escape.”
British Gas isn’t the only energy firm that offers grants to struggling cutsomers.
OVO, Boost, Eon, Eon Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE, Utilita and Utility Warehouse all give .
Tell a pal – £2,500
E.ON has relaunched its ‘refer a friend’ scheme, handing out £50 in retail vouchers for customers and their friend, if there is a successful referral.
It could mean up to £2,500 in free cash to spend in the likes of Greggs, M&S or Waitrose depending on how many people you send to the energy provider.
Both parties will receive their voucher once the new customer has paid their first direct debit.
Household Support Fund – £350
Struggling households could be eligible for cash or vouchers through the Household Support Fund.
The fund is a giant £742million pot of money that’s been shared between councils in England.
These local authorities are now distributing their share of the fund and set their own eligibility criteria as well as deciding how to.
This means what you’re entitled to depends on where you live.
But, for example, hard up households in Bromsgrove and Redditch can currently apply for support worth up to £350.
You’ll usually qualify for help if you’re on benefits or a low income, and may be able to get energy vouchers or cash that can go towards energy bills.
Change supplier – £298
You could save a big chunk of cash by simply moving to the best tariff on the market.
Richard Neudegg, director of regulation at comparison site Uswitch.com, says: “Bill payers on a standard variable tariff can beat these expected rises and save on bills by switching to a well-priced fixed deal now.
“We are seeing the strongest savings in three months, around £298 for the average household.”
To find the best fixed energy deals head to a comparison websites, such as Uswitch.com.
You’ll need to give you postcode and current energy usage details to receive a list of available deals tailored to your needs – it’ll take less than five minutes.
You’ll then be able to compare the rates, contract lengths, and any additional features or benefits offered by each deal.
Thenn, visit the websites of individual energy suppliers to check if they have exclusive deals that are not listed on comparison sites.
Sometimes, suppliers offer special promotions or discounts directly to customers.
Compare these offers with those on the comparison websites to ensure you get the best possible rate.
Switch your usage – £120
You can get discounts on energy bills by simply changing the times when you use power.
For example, British Gas Peak Save scheme offers millions of customers half-price electricity for using their energy during certain hours until September 8.
It offers qualifying customers half price electricity between 11am and 4pm every Sunday.
You can sign up to the scheme on British Gas’ website by entering your full name, email address and customer reference number.
It will then get in touch if your application is successful and credit back any money saved after taking part each week.
Be aware that you can only sign up to the scheme if you have a smart meter that can send half-hourly meter readings.
And E.ON Next is giving new and existing customers free electricity during every bank holiday until March 2026.
Or Ovo Energy customers who are signed up to Power Move and use 15% or less of their total electricity during peak times will earn entries into that month’s prize draw.
The number of prize draw entries each customer will get depends on how much electricity they use during peak times.
The lower your home’s peak time electricity use, the more entries you’ll earn.
Prizes include a year’s free energy up to a maximum of £2,000.
If you win, the money will be added to your account as a credit each month, rather than given as a lump sum.
What energy bill help is available?
There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
