Energy Price Rises - Help and Guidance

Many of us have been affected by sharp rises in energy prices. If your customers are feeling stuck, see if our guidance can help.

What’s happening with energy prices?​

The price of energy has risen in recent months and the energy regulator, Ofgem recently announced an increase in the energy price cap which will take effect in April 2022. This has meant consumer energy bills have gone up, sometimes dramatically. You’re likely already seeing this as part of your outgoings.

We’re here to support you and your customers. We’ve teamed up with Citizens Advice and Energy Saving Trust to give advice and guidance on how to keep bills as low as possible and save energy in homes.

The government has also announced measures to support customers and the detail of how these will work is expected later this year.

What can customers do to keep their bills down?​

We understand that your customers might be worried about the cost of energy. There are a few options available to to keep bills down.​

Check if there are any discounts available​

There are schemes available to some people that may help pay energy bills. Check whether you’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount (runs October to March).

There may also be help available from local authorities.

Customers can also check if their energy provider offers grants to help pay their energy bills.

Eligibility for grants and discounts will vary by provider and depending on circumstances.

Customers struggling to pay their bills? They can contact their supplier​

If your customers are struggling to pay their energy bills, they can contact their energy supplier to see if they can help.

Customers who owe their supplier money, their suppler has to help them arrange a way to pay. The Fuel Direct Scheme may allow them to pay their debt directly from their benefits.

If they can’t come to an agreement with their supplier, or if they're having trouble understanding the options available, they can visit citizensadvice.org.uk/energy for help.

If your customers need to talk to someone they can call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm). To speak to a Welsh-speaking advisor, they can call 0808 223 1144.

10 ways to save energy for you and your customers

• Turn appliances off rather than leaving them on standby. This could save you as much as £55 a year
  
  
• Keep showers short. Having a four-minute shower at most could save your household as much as £65 a year.
  
  
• Draught-proof your home to prevent heat loss, could save up to £40 per year
  
  
• Turn lights off whenever possible. Turning lights off when you’re not using them or when you leave a room could save you around £20 a year on your energy bills.
  
  
• Have the heating a little lower. Your room thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature, which for most people is between 18 and 21 degrees
  
  
• Wash your clothes and plates at a low temperature. If you have a dishwasher, these will often come with an ‘eco’ setting which uses less water and energy. The same applies to washing machines. You can save around £28 a year from your energy bill by washing your clothes on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher temperatures, and reducing your washing machine use by one run per week
  
  
• If it’s time to replace an appliance, choose the most energy efficient model you can. This will save you money in the long run
  
  
• Use LED bulbs in lighting. LEDs use a fraction of the energy of traditional light bulbs and last longer too
  
  
• Think about making your home greener - renewable technology like solar panels and heat pumps can cut your carbon footprint and could also save you money on your bills. Although these upgrades can be expensive in the short term, there may be funding available in your area
  
  
• Contact your energy provider to see if you can get a smart meter to keep a close eye on how much energy you’re using. You may also want to invest in smart devices which self-regulate their energy use and switch off automatically. A smart thermostat can enable you to turn your heating off or down remotely so you’re not using energy when you’re not at home

Find more money saving tips at energysavingtrust.org.uk/energybills

Don't forget you can pay your bill or top up in person at your nearest Payzone Store or Post Office branch. Find your nearest store here.

*Savings are for a typical three-bedroom, gas-heated home in Great Britain, using a gas price of 7p/kWh and electricity price of 28p/kWh (based on April 2022 price cap). Water savings are based on average occupancy. This household is projected to spend a total £1,971 on energy annually, including standing charge. Figures updated 3 February 2022.