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Martin Lewis reveals 7 step method to fight soaring energy bills & save you £1,000s
The Money Saving Expert said there are simple checks Brits can make
MARTIN Lewis has revealed a seven-step method to fight soaring energy bills and save you £1,000s.
The Money Saving Expert said there are simple checks Brits can make now to lower their energy bills.
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His co-host Jeanette Kwayke showed a tweet from Margaret about her rapidly increasing rates.
Her tweet read: "My husband and I are over 70 & our energy bills are going up from £146 per month, to around £404 per month.
"I hear that the average price per year should be £208 a month - we've always been in credit at the old rate, so why is ours going up so much?"
In response, Martin said on The Martin Lewis Money Show: "If you are on monthly Direct Debit, check that you're not overpaying."
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He explained rates dropped on October 1 - but many Direct Debits have still risen.
Martin then advised Brits to do an up-to-date meter reading and make sure they're not in energy debt.
"Go online and use a 'is my Direct Debit correct?' calculator where you put in your annual usage and it will tell you roughly what you should be paying," he advised
"If it's too high, you have a right to a fair Direct Debit. So you politely get on the phone and ask 'can you justify why the Direct Debit is so high when I'm not using anywhere near that much?'."
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Then, if they refuse, you can take them to the energy ombudsman.
Alternatively Brits can go onto a 'pay in receipt of bills' plan - but this costs 7 per cent more.
It comes after he revealed how "hidden" boiler switches can slash thousands from your energy bills.
Martin explained how homeowners with a combi boiler can save £65 annually by slightly tweaking their flow temperature.
The flow temperature on your boiler is the temperature of the water that your boiler sends to your radiators.
Reducing the temperature means your boiler is using less gas to heat the hot water, saving money on your bills.
How can you get help with your energy bills?
If you are struggling to pay your bills there is help on offer this winter and into 2024.
The government is in the process of distributing £900 of tax-free cash to millions of households.
The cost of living payment was split out into three installments and the second, worth £300 is due to be paid into bank accounts soon.
The payment is to ease the pressure off those households receiving benefits and struggling to pay their bills.
It is paid straight into bank accounts and the second payment is due between October 31 and November 19.
Thousands of pensioners eligible for the winter fuel payment will receive up to £300 top-up from the government this year.
The payment is being made to every household with someone born before September 25, 1957.
On top of the regular payment, the Government is topping it up with a £150 or £300 pensioner cost of living payment, meaning you could receive up to £600 in total.
In most cases, you won't have to apply and the payment will be made automatically from November.
The Household Support Fund is worth £842million and has been shared between councils in England.
What you can get varies depending on where you live, in most cases, support is offered to those on low incomes or benefits.
Some households have received vouchers to help pay for energy bills while other local authorities have transferred money directly into residents' bank accounts.
The latest batch of funding has to be allocated by councils by March 31, 2024.
Cold weather payments are made to hard-up households to help cover the cost of higher energy bills during cold snaps.
Eligible households receive £25 for every seven-day period where temperatures are below zero degrees.
The money is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The scheme runs between November 1 and March 31 but you don't have to apply and will receive the payments automatically if you are eligible.
Millions of households in England, Wales and Scotland can also get £150 deducted off their energy bills through the warm home discount.
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This winter the money will be taken off your bill between October 16 and March 2024.
To find out if you meet the criteria for the warm home discount and to see what other help you could benefit from you can find out more in our full list of energy grants and freebies round up.
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