The average household can save £200 by changing energy company so if you haven't switched in the last couple of years then the chances are that there may be something cheaper available. There isn't one company that's cheapest for everyone, it depends how you want to pay, whether you want to manage your account online, and how much gas and/or electricity you use. The best way to find out is to use a price comparison website such as Martin Lewis' Cheap Energy Club or www.uSwitch.com
You will need the following information:
This information can all be found on am energy bill or annual summary. Get in touch with us if you would like more advice on finding and switching to a cheaper energy supplier.
You may be able to apply for the Warm Home Discount. This is a government scheme which gives a one-off payment of £140 to eligible households over the winter. There are 2 parts of the scheme:
Most of the big energy suppliers have Trust Funds that can help with clearing debts on energy accounts, see for example the British Gas one here. If you are on a low income and there was a good reason why you built the debt up in the first place then it would be worth looking into the Trust Funds. We have helped households clear debts of between £200 and £6,400. Contact us for more information.
Yes if you don't have any debt on them. British Gas, E.ON, EDF, First Utility, Npower, SSE and Scottish Power will now exchange prepayment meters for credit meters free of charge but most will run a credit check first. There are much more competitive tariffs available for customers who have credit meters so it is definitely worth considering. If you rent from a private landlord it is a good idea to get their written permission first before having a prepayment meter taken out. Visit the Money Saving Expert for more information.
You should think about it if you have more bedrooms than people in the house. Yorkshire Water will fit a meter for free providing they can fit it where they want to. You then have two years to change your mind so if you find you are paying more you can change back to the unmetered charges. Typical prices on a meter for average water users are:
- 1 person = £244 per year; 2 people = £385; 3 people = £470; 4 people = £568; 5 people = £681 (2017/18 prices)
Yes, Yorkshire Water offers a number of schemes that can help with water bills:
1) Community Trust. This will help customers who are in arrears with their water bills.
2) Water Sure: This can help cap the water bills for low income households who have a water meter but where a) a household member has a medical condition which means they use more water than average or b) have three or more children under 19
3) Water Support: If you are a low income household and your annual water bill is more than £425 then this scheme can also help to reduce your water costs
For more information on Yorkshire Water's schemes click here
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