Ideas for saving money on
your gas and electricity bills
What is in this booklet
Page
The main things to check
3
Can you pay less for
gas and electricity?
4
Money and help you can get
7
Help to make your home better
10
Things you can do at home
11
Words you may need to know
13
2
The main things to check
1. Can I get gas and electricity
cheaper with my company
or another company?
2. Am I on the best tariff?
Tariff is the word for
how much your gas
and electricity costs
3. Can I get money to help me
pay my bills or
use less gas and electricity?
4. Is there a better way to pay
for my gas and electricity?
5. Can I do things at home
to save gas and electricity?
3
Can you pay less for
gas and electricity?
You can check to see if you can pay less
for your gas and electricity.
You will need some information like:
 How much you pay for your
gas and electricity.
This is called a tariff
 What the cheapest tariff is for you
 How much gas or electricity you used
in the last year
 How you pay for your gas and electricity
 Your postcode
You can find this information on:
 your bills
 or the annual statement letter
the company sends you once a year
4
You can use this information to check
for cheaper gas and electricity.
This may be from your company
or another company.
It is fine to change to another company
if you pay the gas and electricity bills.
Gas and electricity is sometimes
cheaper if:

You get gas and electricity with the
same company. This is called dual fuel

You get a fixed price deal.
This is when your gas or electricity
stays the same price for a certain time.
The company should tell you
when the price will end and move you
to their cheapest normal price after that.
But be careful. There may be special rules
that mean you have to pay extra money.
For example, if you use extra gas
or electricity.
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You can also look at the ways to pay
for your gas and electricity.
Here are some of the ways to pay:
.
Pay as you go meter.
You don’t have bills. You pay for your gas
and electricity as you go.
Paying your bills every 3 months
by cash, cheque or card
Paying a bit every week, 2 weeks
or month at places like the Post Office,
newsagents or supermarkets.
Direct Debit
Direct Debit. This is when the money
for your bills comes straight out of
your bank account.
You pay the same amount each time.
If you need help, you can call
Citizens Advice on 03454 04 05 06.
6
Money and help you can get
Help if you cannot pay your bills
Your gas or electricity company should help
if you do not have enough money
to pay your bills.
Talk to them to sort out a way
to pay your bills.
For example, you could pay a bit at a time.
Or there may be benefits and other help
you can get.
For advice you can call Citizens Advice
on 03454 04 05 06.
Or visit your local Citizens Advice.
If you use a pay as you go meter
you can still change company
if you owe up to £500.
Sometimes you can save money
by changing to a different company.
7
Money for your electricity bill
You may be able to get £140
off your electricity bill if you are older
or get some benefits.
This money is called the
Warm Home Discount.
Ask your electricity company about it.
Check that you will still get this money
if you change your electricity company.
Money for your heating bills
Some older people can get money
to help pay their heating bills in winter.
This money is called the
Winter Fuel Payment.
This money may be paid straight to you
if you get some benefits.
If not, call 08459 15 15 15 to find out
if you can get it.
8
Extra money if it is very cold
If it gets very cold in winter for a week
or more you may get some extra money.
This money is called
Cold Weather Payments.
You can get this money if you get
some benefits.
If you are older, disabled,
very ill or find it hard to see or hear
Ask your gas or electricity company
if you can be put on their
Priority Services Register.
This is when you can get some
extra support, like:
 a free check to make sure
the gas in your home is safe
 sending your bills to someone you know
who can help you pay them
 bills that are easier to understand,
like in large writing
9
Help to make your home better
There are ways to make your home
warmer and save money on your bills.
For example,
 insulation. This is something that goes
in your roof or walls to keep heat in
 double glazing for your windows
 a new boiler
Sometimes you can get free insulation
or help to change your home.
To get advice about this:
 speak to your gas or electricity
company
 visit your local Citizens Advice
 Or in England and Wales
call the Energy Saving Advice Service
on 0300 123 1234
 Or in Scotland call Home Energy
Scotland on 0808 808 2282
10
Things you can do at home
Here are some ideas to save money
on your bills.
1. Put the heating and hot water on
only when you need it.
2. Close your curtains at night. This can
help keep the heat inside your home.
3. Always turn the lights off when you
leave the room.
4. Only charge your phone or laptop when
you need to. And turn off your TV properly
when you are not watching it.
5. Only boil as much water as you need to.
11
6. Soon everyone will be able to get
a Smart Meter.
This is a meter that tells your
gas and electricity company how much
gas or electricity you have used.
You can also see how much
gas and electricity you are using
12
Words you may need to know
Word
What it means
Energy
This is another word for gas and electricity.
Your energy bills are your gas or electricity bills.
Tariff
This is how much you pay for your
gas or electricity.
There are different tariffs.
Some may be cheaper or more expensive
than the one you pay.
Dual Fuel
This is when you get your gas and electricity
from the same company.
Fixed price
This is when your gas and electricity stays
the same price for a certain amount of time.
Switch suppliers This is when you change your gas or electricity
company.
Benefits
This is money the government pay to some
people. Some examples are Income Support or
Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
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