You’ll know as well as us just how chilly it is in Manchester at this time of year, but when you click the heating on tonight have you thought about if you could be saving? Energy bills are a big worry for many of us this winter - especially since a lot of us are spending more time at home than ever before. 

You could be saving money on your bills simply by checking you’re not paying any more than you need to. As part of our Big Energy Saving Winter campaign, we’re encouraging people to check they’re getting the best deal on their energy this winter, so you can save money for where you need it most. 

Check out the quick and easy tips below to see if you could reduce your bills - without having to cut down on the energy you use. 

Check you’re getting the best deal on your energy bills 

It’s easy to check if you’re getting the best deal possible on energy, using our price comparison tool to compare prices from different energy suppliers

All you need is the name of your supplier and tariff (found on your energy bill) - if you know your annual consumption as well you can get an even more accurate quote.

You can view our price comparison tool here. 

Check if you could save using a smart meter 

Smart meters automatically send meter readings to your supplier - meaning they can bill you accurately for the energy you’ve used.

You won’t have to pay upfront to have a smart meter installed and your supplier should contact you to tell you exactly when you can get one - if they don’t you contact them to ask when that might be or see whether they’ll install one as soon as possible. 

Check if you’re entitled to extra payments 

You could be eligible for extra payments towards your energy costs, such as the Winter Fuel Payment which you could be eligible for if were born on or before 5 October 1954. 

You could also receive Cold Weather Payments to pay for extra heating costs when it’s very cold - if you already get Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit.

Check if you’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme 

You might be able to get £140 off your electricity bill under the Warm Home Discount Scheme if you’re on a low income or get the guarantee credit as part of Pension Credit.

Check with your supplier to see if they offer the discount - not all suppliers are part of the scheme. You can find out more about the scheme here. 

Check if you could receive grants to pay off energy debts 

If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant from a charitable trust to help pay it off.

The British Gas Energy Trust offers grants and schemes to anyone and there are also companies who offer grants specifically for their own customers. 

See a full list of grants and schemes from energy and water companies across the UK here. 

Check if you could get extra help from your supplier 

You might be able to get extra help and support from your energy supplier by signing up to the Priority Services Register. 

You can sign up if you’re a pensioner, disabled or sick or if your energy network considers you ‘vulnerable’. 

They would be able to help you with things like reading your energy meter, moving your energy meter free of charge or getting bills sent or copied to someone else (e.g. a carer).

Call our energy advice team 

If you need further help with your energy bills or want to speak to an adviser to find out how you could save, our dedicated team is here to help. 

Call us free on our Adviceline on 0808 278 7800 or book a call back with our online referral form. Find out more about our energy services here.