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Things you need to do before prices rise on 1st April
Customers are prepping themselves for their energy bills to soar as of 1 April as the price cap rises to £1,971.
1. Use a smart meter to monitor your energy usage.
While many may feel powerless to do anything about the rising costs, there are some important steps that people can take over the next few weeks to ensure their bills are as low as they can be.
A smart meter will show how much energy you are using each day. This can help you make more informed decisions, for example, how high you have your heating, and provide an insight into what the most energy-guzzling appliances are. You can use this information to create a budget to keep your spending under control.
By taking these simple measures ahead of 1 April and taking control of your energy use and bills, you can make sure that you are best prepared for the incoming increases. While there is nothing you can do to reduce the actual cost of energy, you can get into good energy saving habits in order to save money around the home and reduce your overall bill. However, if you are worried about getting into debt, get in touch with your provider as soon as possible, as they can help you find a solution.”
2. Take a meter reading on 31 March and submit it to your supplier if you don’t have a smart meter. This puts you in control, with knowledge and proof of how much energy you used before 1st April ahead of the new rates coming into effect and will help ensure your bill is accurate.
3. Get into good energy saving habits. This includes running your washing machine at 30 degrees, turning your heating down by 1 degree, and turning off lights and appliances when not being used.
4. Check whether you have a surplus credit balance with your provider. In normal times we would advise that you claim back this money before the summer, but, given the price rises, it might be worth keeping the balance there. Any extra money can act as a buffer against impending price rises.
5. Check your monthly direct debit payments reflect your actual use. Inform your provider if it is inaccurate. This ensures you are not paying too much or too little for your energy bills. 34
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