Hard-up prepayment meter customers can get free energy this winter if they’re struggling

BILL payers are preparing for an expensive winter as energy costs soar through the roof.

But a new Ofgem report reveals customers on pre-payment meters can get free energy if they're running out of gas or electricity.

There are two main types of energy meter.

A standard meter tracks how much gas and electricity you use and a supplier will set your bill based on these numbers and how much they charge for each unit of energy .

Another option is a pre-payment meter.

This is where you effectively pay-as-you-go for your energy and top it up using a key, card or app.

Around 4.3million people in the UK are on pre-payment meters.

They are often installed in homes that have fallen into debt so a customer can manage their bills better or by landlords in some rental properties.

Using a pre-payment meter can be more expensive than a standard meter because the tariffs on offer from suppliers are usually more expensive than standard meter deals.

But Ofgem is now reporting that if you run out of gas or electricity, your supplier provides an emergency credit facility which you can access automatically via your meter.

But if this still isn't enough, you can call up your supplier to let them know your situation, and they're required to provide any additional support necessary in order to keep you on supply.

You'll get Emergency Credit if you are struggling to pay, Friendly-hours credit if your top-up points are closed or Additional Support Credit if you're are in a vulnerable situation.

In most cases any temporary credit will have to be paid back when you next top up, although you can ask your supplier to spread out the cost in a payment plan if you can't quite afford it yet.

How much you get will depend on your situation and who you're with, so we'd recommend calling up for details if you feel like it affects you.

Other ways to save money this winter

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to save money as we get closer to the end of the year.

Particularly as gas and electricity prices crawl up, there are many hacks to use with your kitchen and home appliances.

To start with:

Use residual oven heat to cook

Ovens can take a while to cool down, so you can turn them off at least 10 minutes before your food is due out and let the residual heat finish the job for you.

Of course, make sure your food is piping hot all the way through before eating, especially when cooking meat.

Don’t open the oven when in use

Opening the oven door will drop the overall temperature inside the cooker - forcing your appliance to work harder to build the heat up, costing you more.

It also adds time on to cooking your meal.

Don’t overfill the kettle 

Out of all the household appliances, the kettle is ranked one of the costliest, after the shower, heating and a fan-assisted oven.

Make sure you’re only filling the kettle up with the amount of water required to prevent it from working harder.

Don't leave devices on standby

Energy Saving Trust estimates that between 9-16% of electricity used in homes is through appliances in standby mode. 

On a bill of £500, this could account for as much as £80. We've rounded up the worst devices to leave on standby.

Turn off lights

It's the one your parents always used to moan about. Don’t leave the lights on when you leave a room - even if it's only for a few minutes.

Doing so can cost £2.30 a day, or £828 a year according to Utility Design.

Use your washing machine efficiently 

If you’re only half-filling the washing machine, you’re wasting water.

Likewise, if you’re putting everything on a 60 degree wash when it could be done at 30 degrees, you’re burning energy unnecessarily.

Use an air-dryer instead of a tumble dryer

Tumble dryers take a chunk of energy to run. In the summer, hang your clothes outside.

In the winter, pop them on a dryer in your warmest room of the house. 

For a longer list of energy-saving top tips, read our article here.

We've also rounded up a list of suppliers who could hand out free cash of up to £1,500 for your bills.

And in terms of council funds, the Household Support Fund helps families with the rising cost of living, has been extended.