How to beat UK energy price rises and lower your bills

Shop around for a cheaper energy tariff. The comparison website MoneySupermarket says there are 80 schemes that are now priced below Ofgem’s cap. It says the cheapest deals are under £950 a year for the average household – a saving of almost £200 now, and more when the cap rises. Avro Energy’s Simple and SuperSwitcher tops its table of the cheapest deals.

Look out for electricity tariffs where the price you pay is lower during off-peak hours – some providers cut the cost of energy at night, so if you run appliances during those hours, this type of deal might help you cut costs.

Reduce your energy use. There may be quick fixes to make your home more energy efficient – like insulating hot water pipes and tanks, fitting thermostatic valves on radiators and so on.

See if you qualify for help to make your home more energy efficient. Households receiving certain benefits can get measures including loft insulation installed for free or at a low cost. Speak to your energy provider for details.

The government’s Green Homes Grant is supposed to help householders in England to fund work to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, but seems to be struggling to deliver. It should offer households vouchers of up to £5,000, or £10,000 if they claim benefits, to pay for jobs such as installing heat pumps. The deadline for work to be done has been extended until 31 March 2022.