You can reduce an energy bill in two ways: pay less for each unit, or use fewer units. Start with your bill and meter readings, then work through free and low-cost changes before buying upgrades.
Start with a recent bill
Find these figures before comparing tariffs or estimating savings:
Energy bill checklist
- Electricity and gas unit rates in pence per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
- Daily standing charges
- Whether meter readings are actual, smart or estimated
- Tariff name, end date and any exit fee
- Payment method and current account balance
- Recent annual usage in kWh, where available
Your Direct Debit is not the unit price. It may reflect forecast use, seasonal smoothing, account credit or debt. Compare tariffs using the same annual consumption, standing charges and applicable fees.
If a bill is estimated, submit a reading where safe and practical. If a smart meter is not sending readings, you may need to submit them yourself while it is fixed.
Check what is using electricity
Appliance labels show watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). Kilowatts × hours used = kilowatt-hours (kWh). Multiply kWh by the electricity unit rate, converting pence to pounds.
Worked example: a 1,500W appliance
At one hour per day, seven days per week, and an illustrative 25p/kWh electricity rate, 1,500W equals 1.5kW and uses 1.5kWh each day. Daily energy cost is £0.375.
Illustrative calculator estimates using a 365.25-day annual average; excludes standing charges and purchase costs. Real usage varies as appliances cycle on and off.
Use heating controls deliberately
Match heating schedules to how rooms are used, while keeping the home warm enough for the people living there. Age, disability and health conditions can change what is safe. Move furniture away from radiators where safe, and close curtains after dark without covering heaters. Investigate maintenance problems before buying a replacement.
Reduce heat loss without blocking ventilation
Draught-proofing unwanted gaps around suitable doors and windows may help, but keep extractor fans, air bricks, trickle vents and ventilation required for fires, flues or gas appliances clear. Seek competent advice if unsure. Address persistent condensation, leaks and mould rather than simply reducing ventilation.
Six no-spend checks
- Check heating times against actual room use.
- Move safe obstructions away from radiators.
- Close curtains after dark without covering heaters or vents.
- Use controls as their instructions describe.
- Check windows and external doors for unwanted gaps.
- Compare meter readings over similar periods before judging results.
Open the printable winter-heating checklist.
Cut hot-water waste safely
Shorter showers, suitable washing-machine settings and avoiding unnecessary hot-water use may reduce consumption. Do not lower stored-hot-water temperatures or change boiler safety settings without following manufacturer guidance or qualified advice.
Check the tariff as well as usage
Compare annual consumption, unit rates, standing charges, payment method, tariff duration and exit fees. A fixed tariff offers some price certainty but is not automatically cheaper; variable tariffs may rise or fall. A lower estimated monthly payment alone does not establish a cheaper tariff.
Compare fixed and variable energy tariffs.
Calculate payback before buying an upgrade
Estimate annual energy reduction and compare it with purchase, installation and maintenance costs. Treat advertised savings as estimates unless based on your own home, tariff and usage. Check current nation-specific improvement schemes before paying; eligibility and dates change.
If an energy bill looks wrong
Check estimated readings, meter details, unit rates and standing charges. Keep photographs of readings and correspondence. Contact your supplier, then follow its complaints process and current independent-help route if unresolved.
If you are struggling to pay
Contact your supplier as soon as you may miss a payment or cannot afford to top up. Ask about affordable payment plans, payment breaks or reductions, reviewing payments, hardship funds, prepayment support and the Priority Services Register where relevant.
Check current official support rather than relying on old grant lists. Find a suitable support route; if several bills or debts are unaffordable, see free debt-help guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Does the energy price cap limit my total bill?
No. On covered tariffs, the cap limits unit rates and standing charges, not a household's total bill. Actual costs depend on usage and account factors.
Why can my Direct Debit fall without my energy use falling?
Direct Debit is a payment arrangement and may change with forecasts, account credit or debt, tariff changes or supplier reviews. Compare actual kWh over similar periods.
Does the appliance calculator include the standing charge?
No. Standing charges are separate from the appliance energy-use estimate.
Should I block a draught vent to keep heat in?
No. Do not block purpose-built ventilation, air bricks, trickle vents or ventilation required for appliances.
What should I do first if I cannot afford heating?
Contact your supplier about payment and hardship support, and use free debt guidance. Prioritise safe, affordable help rather than buying a product.
Official sources
- Ofgem: how your bill is calculated
- Ofgem: help with energy bills
- Citizens Advice: energy bill too high
- Energy Saving Trust: draught-proofing
- GOV.UK: help with energy bills
General UK information, not personalised financial or technical advice. Check supplier terms, manufacturer instructions and current official support.