Energy prices set to rise ahead of winter: Top tips to cut costs

Greg Wilson, Founder of energy comparison website Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “The increase in demand for gas in order to cope with drastic weather changes has caused a rise in global gas prices and a record high cost for wholesale electricity prices.

“With furlough coming to an end later this month, and Ofgem’s recent announcement that price caps will rise from October, affecting 11 million homes, the next six months will prove critical for many consumers who want to spend less and start saving.

“There are many ways to tackle increasing energy costs, but the most effective way is switching energy provider – a process which has never been easier. By choosing an Ofgem accredited comparison site such as ours, consumers can get an understanding of what’s on offer across a range of energy suppliers – instantly providing an overview of more competitive prices. Given the increase in energy consumption and the new hike to the energy price cap, there has never been a better time for consumers to start seeking better and fairer options.”

Here are a few tips on how to keep household bills down: 

·        Switch provider: according to Ofgem, consumers are able to save around £360 every year, meaning they are able to offset the increase in energy spend.**** Switching provider doesn’t just help save money, it also allows consumers to find suppliers with better customer service and seek out more environmentally-friendly suppliers. 

·        Thermostat control: by turning the thermostat down by just one degree the average home can save around £60 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Additionally, for a long-term solution, consumers should look to install heating controls to help prevent wasted energy use. Many of these thermostats can be controlled from phones, so customers can be in control of their energy usage no matter where they are. 

·        Make the home itself more efficient: depending upon the concern around the  current bill, there are many ways to make sure the home is running optimally and efficiently. The best solution is to improve the insulation; however, this can be quite a costly process. A more immediate solution is to use energy efficient lightbulbs – a relatively inexpensive solution which helps to reduce costs over a long period of time. 

·        Claim tax relief: make sure to take advantage of tax relief which allows anyone working at home on a regular basis to claim relief on gas and electricity bills – as well as metered water and business phone calls. HMRC are offering relief worth £6 a week with virtually no additional hassle as workers will not need to provide receipts or factor in any complicated calculations.  

Quotezone.co.uk is one of the leading price comparison websites in the UK, helping over 3 million users find more competitive deals.  Consumers can use Quotezone.co.uk to compare electricity, gas and duel fuel tariffs.