Managing your energy bills

Direct debits

If you pay your energy bills by direct debit, your payments will usually be estimated on the amount of energy you’ll use over a year.

You may find that your payments will increase if you use more energy than the supplier has estimated. Your supplier may also have recently increased its prices, although there is a limit to how much they can do this. If your direct debits have increased your supplier must let you know before it happens. If they don’t, complain to your supplier.

To ensure you’re paying the right amount of direct debit make sure you send monthly meter readings. This means you’ll be less likely to owe them extra money.

If you’re are struggling to pay your energy bills there are steps you can take to make sure you don’t end up in debt. Energy saving advice is available from the Centre for Sustainable Energy www.cse.org.uk/ advice or contact Citizens Advice Bristol. Visit www.bristolcab.org.uk or call 0808 278 7957

Save on bills, while helping the planet

People across Bristol are saving money while saving the planet by making small changes to their daily habits by:

• rethinking how they travel and leaving the car at home for shorter journeys

• changing how they’re eating, growing their own food and eating less meat

• spending less on shopping by repairing not replacing and thinking second-hand first

• and, spending more time in nature – it’s free and great for your health and wellbeing

Hear how Martin, Kanwal, Roy, Simon, Sumita, Benhinn, Becky, Nobby, Jim and Olivia are cutting their costs and carbon footprint in their short film Save money save the planet www.bristolclimatehub. org/save-money-save-the-planet