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THIS is the last chance for thousands of customers to sign up for half price Christmas energy - check if you're eligible.

The UK's largest energy firm, British Gas, is slashing prices on Christmas Day and Boxing Day between 11am and 4pm.

Tomorrow is the deadline to sign up for half-price gas
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Tomorrow is the deadline to sign up for half-price gasCredit: getty
To apply, you just need to be a new or existing customer with a smart meter
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To apply, you just need to be a new or existing customer with a smart meterCredit: alamy

New and existing customers are eligible to receive the offer but the deadline is nearing.

Tomorrow, December 15, is the last chance to sign up for half-price energy.

Customers can be on any tariff but they must have a smart meter.

Last Christmas, British Gas also offered half-price energy on Christmas Day which saw customers earn a total of £1.4m credit.

read more in winter fuel

To sign up, head to British Gas' website and click //www.britishgas.co.uk/energy/peak-save.html.

Any money you save across the two-day window will be added to your account as credit.

The discounts come as many households are worried about rising energy bills this winter.

The current price cap is set at £1,717 per year, but it is forecast to rise to £1,736 in January.

A decision to means test the Winter Fuel Payment also means that millions of pensioners will miss out on a £300 cash boost to go towards their energy bill.

Simple energy saving tips

What are other suppliers doing?

Elsewhere, Scottish Power said it is offering half-price electricity for smart meter customers on Saturdays and Sundays.

The discounted rate is available every Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 4pm,

Meanwhile, Octopus Energy customers who are signed up for the "Octoplus" can take part in free electricity sessions when wholesale prices fall below zero.

The sessions last an hour, and customers can use electricity for free and receive credits for using more than they typically would.

All customers with a smart meter, including smart prepay meters, receive an alert the day before each session.

When the session begins, they can ramp up their electricity usage - whether it's charging gadgets, running a laundry marathon, or any other household activity.

Any extra electricity consumed beyond their normal usage will be credited back to their account.

Find out more by visiting octopus.energy/free-electricity/.

Ovo Energy also offers a scheme which rewards customers for reducing their energy consumption during peak times.

Power Move offers customers up to £10 a month if they use 8.50% or less of their home's total electricity between 6-9pm, Monday to Friday.

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For example, by using the dishwasher in the morning or waiting until after 9pm in the evening to catch up on TV.

You can sign up by visiting ovoenergy.com/power-move.

4 ways to keep your energy bills low

Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.

1. Turn your heating down by one degree

You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.

2. Switch appliances and lights off 

It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills

3. Install a smart meter

Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.

4. Consider switching energy supplier

No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there. 

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