FAMILIES are bracing themselves for eye-watering hikes to energy bills in a matter of days – here’s what you MUST do now to prepare, energy expert Tashema Jackson said.
Millions are feeling the pinch amid a cost of living crisis – and rising energy costs are pushing cash-strapped families to the brink.
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Households will see their bills DOUBLE to an average of £1,971 from April 1 when the price cap – which limits how much suppliers can charge customers for energy – goes up.
If you’re panicking about how to afford the hike, energyhelpline.com consumer champion Tashema Jackson gives her advice on how you can best prepare yourself – and your finances.
She’s one of many experts on The Sun’s new Squeeze Team panel, here to help you tackle the cost of living crisis.
If you’re worried about making ends meet, are struggling to pay off your debts or don’t know how best to manage your cash, get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Stay where you are
The energy price cap applies to providers’ standard and default tariffs – and there are currently around 22million people on these deals.
It will go up on April 1, doubling your bills.
You might be wondering whether its best to switch to a fixed deal with your provider to avoid the soaring rates rolling out in days.
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But Ms Jackson said the best thing to do is stay where you are on the price cap.
“A lot of people are on standard variable rate – that’s best place to be because it provides more protection,” she said.
Some providers are offering fixed deals which cost the same as the price cap – but these are very limited offers, which often end within hours of becoming available.
If you’re coming to the end of a fixed deal, then allow your current provider to automatically roll you onto a standard variable tariff, she added.
Quick appliance tweaks
You might not know that household appliances could be a real drain on your energy bills if they are not working properly.
That’s because they require more energy to run – which will be driving up your bills.
There are a number of key culprits you should check now.
If your radiator has cold spots even when it’s on, it shows there’s air trapped inside, which is stopping it from working properly – and costing you money.
A simple fix will sort this out – you need to bleed them. We have a handy guide to help you with this.
Make sure you check your freezer is full as well.
Empty space could be driving up your energy bills because your freezer needs more power to keep it cool.
“Some people fill up water bottles to make their freezer full,” Ms Jackson said.
A quick boiler tweak could also save you nearly £100 a month.
It works if you have a combi-boiler – which is the most common model.
Make sure the flow settings are set to 50C for hot water and 55C for heating.
Sometimes, default temperatures are much higher than this – and it can increase your energy bills.
Do a meter reading
March 31 – the day before the price cap rises – is the perfect time to take a meter reading.
You should aim to take a reading so you get the current cheaper rates for all the energy you use right up until April 1 hits.
But families may be worried that doing a meter reading may push up their bills – instead of helping to lower them – if their usage is high.
However, Ms Jackson explained why its worth doing on.
“You give an estimate for your energy based on previous usage, which gives you a cost for the upcoming year.
“That cost is divided by 12 for your monthly direct debits.
“During the winter, your using more energy and during the summer you use less.
“So come March, you should be debt to your supplier, but come October you should be in credit with your supplier.
“So you shouldn’t have to pay more for your energy just because you’ve had one or two high readings during the winter.”
Draught proof your home
It may be getting into the warmer months, but it can still get chilly at night.
To avoid reaching for the thermostat, make sure the cold isn’t getting in through any draughts.
“You can buy cheap insulation from DIY stores and put it up around your windows to keep the heat in,” Ms Jackson said.
“While for draughts coming through doors, you can roll up old towels and put them up against gaps.”
