Get energy savvy to save £££s
Many households are worried about being able to afford their electricity and gas bills. Our Home Energy Hub provides a single source of expert information and advice to help you control your energy costs.
We have scoured the net for home-energy tips and hope you find the links below useful. We will update this page regularly, so if you find an informative site that we can add to the list, please let us know.
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Help with Heating oil - If you live in Central Bedfordshire and are about to run out of heating oil with no means of paying for the cost of refuelling then the Fuel bank Foundation may be able to help. Requests can be made by phoning Citizens Advice Bureau on 01525 402742
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Household Support Fund - If you live in Central Bedfordshire you may be eligible for financial Support from the Council's Household Support Fund. Find out more here
Community Heating Oil Scheme
An oil buying group set up in Hertforshire could save members £££ on their heating oil.
CDA Herts, the County's rural community charity, has set up a scheme to purchase heating oil in bulk which, in turn, lowers the price. And according to the Charity, group members saved an average of £100 each last year, buying heating oil in this way.
So if you have an oil fired boiler and live in Hertfordshire or Central Bedfordshire, why not find out more about becoming a member.
Actively reduce your home energy use and save money
Did you know that turning your thermostat down by just 1°C could save you around 8 per cent of your heating costs? Or that a 40° wash cycle uses about a third less energy than washing your clothes at 60°? These are just two of the 15 surprising energy facts listed on TheGreenAge website, where you can also access a range of energy-saving guides.
Energy-saving experts have provided a wealth of tips online. Here’s a selection of ideas for you to consider, including some quick and easy wins:
Check if you are eligible for additional financial support
If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, it’s well worth doing a bit of research online. There is a wide range of grants, benefits and support available, including from the government, your energy suppliers and your local council, which may be able to help through the government’s Household Support Fund. The Government's Help for Households Campaign is a good place to start. The MoneySavingExpert web page provides a neat summary of what’s on offer, the eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Make sure you receive all the help that you are entitled to. Check when the energy rebate and other cost-of-living payments are due; how the payments will be made (this will depend on how you pay your energy bills); and what to do if they don’t arrive. These three links will give you a good starting point for your research: BBC , Citizens Advice and StepChange
Central Bedfordshire Council has set up a dedicated information hub on their website for anyone concerned about the cost of living. This includes information about funding to help with food, energy and water bills and other wider essentials and a network of warm spaces across Central Bedfordshire for people to use when the temperatures drop.
Keep yourself informed and take control
If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, don’t ignore the problem. Contact your energy supplier straight away and ask for their advice. You’ll be legally protected and your supplier will have to work out a payment plan with you. To find out more, read the information provided on the Ofgem and Citizens Advice web pages.
It seems likely that there will be tough times ahead. With energy bills having risen sharply (read this blog to find out why), curbing energy consumption should be high on everyone’s list of priorities. It’s time to take control.
Start off by using this handy Budget Calculator to gain a clear picture of your monthly finances. Once you know exactly what monies are coming in, what payments have to be made and when, you may well find that there are some economies that you can make, to ease the financial pressure.
Don’t be under any illusions about the UK Government’s energy price cap. The ‘cap’ relates to the unit price of energy during a fixed period – it is not a cap on the total energy bill for your household. The more energy you use, the more you will end up having to pay.
If you are using a prepayment meter, consider switching to a direct debit. This will allow you to spread the cost of your energy across the entire year, rather than paying less in the summer and then taking a big financial hit in the winter. Read this Citizens Advice article to help you decide if the prepayment method is right for you.
Access Ofgem’s glossary for a straightforward explanation of energy terms.
If you are worried about falling into debt, seek professional advice. It’s available free of charge from these three organisations:
Budget calculator
Our budget calculator is designed to help you with your home finances.