All the ways to save money on your energy bill as Ofgem price cap rises again

Energy bills will rise again for millions of households this winter – so if you're worried about the extra cost, we've rounded up all the help and support you may be entitled to.

The Ofgem energy price cap will rise from £1,717 a year to £1,738 for the average dual fuel household paying by direct debit. This will come into force from January 1 and will last for three months, when the price cap will be updated again. But the Ofgem price cap does not put a limit on how much you can pay for energy.

Instead, it sets a limit on unit rates for gas and electricity, as well as the standing charges, which is what you pay to be connected to the grid. There are different rates for prepayment customers and those who pay on receipt of their bill. Here is what you need to know about getting help for your energy bill.

Shop around for the best deals and consider fixing

Uswitch.com says households that are on a default tariff can save money by switching to a fixed energy deal. The comparison website flagged the current cheapest fix as Outfox the Market, Fix'd Dual Nov24 v2.0, which is priced at £1,606 a year for an average household with typical usage. Uswitch also recommended looking at EDF Energy Simply Fixed Direct 1Yr Jan26 and British Gas Fixed Tariff 18M, which are both set at £1,608 a year.

Make sure you check what support you're entitled to

Check you're getting all the benefits and help that you're entitled to by using a free benefits calculator online. Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, said: "Energy should not be considered a luxury. It’s a necessity. Going without energy can have major consequences for households – on health, on housing and on stress and anxiety levels.

"That’s why it’s critical that people understand what help is available if they are struggling. Anyone having difficulties paying their bills should, first and foremost, make sure they have access to all the benefits they are entitled to – particularly Pension Credit – and contact their energy company for help and support."

Speak to your energy provider as soon as possible

Contact your energy supplier if you're worried you can't pay your energy bill. Your energy provider should offer you tailored support which can include payment plans, payment breaks and affordable debt repayments. It is always best to speak to your supplier before you fall behind on your payments.

Not paying your energy bill can damage your credit score, and can even result in court action and visits from debt collectors. If you're a vulnerable customer, you may be able to sign up to the Priority Services Register. This can include if you're a pensioner or if you have a long-term medical condition. The help you could get includes advance notice of planned power cuts, priority support in an emergency and help with reading your meter. Speak to your energy supplier to get added to the register.

Ask for emergency credit if you're a prepayment customer

If you're a prepayment energy customer and you're going to run out of power, you should be able to access "emergency credit" from your supplier. You'll typically be given between £5 and £10 but some energy firms offer more than this – for example, Utilita gives customers up to £15.

Emergency credit is normally available when you have less than 50p for electricity or less than £2 for gas – but again, this may vary slightly between energy providers. Keep in mind you'll need to pay the emergency credit back the next time you top up. Emergency credit is available at any time of the day, whereas there is also "friendly credit" which is available times when it is generally harder to top up.

This is typically between 6pm and 9pm Monday to Saturday, and all day on Sunday and bank holidays. Again, you'll need to pay friendly credit back when you top up. You may be able to get get extra support in the form of "additional support credit" if you're at risk of disconnecting. This is generally available to vulnerable customers and needs to be paid back.

Apply for free energy grants worth up to £2,000

Check if your energy firm offers hardship funds or grants that you don't need to pay back. For example, the British Gas Energy Trust offers help worth up to £2,000 and this can be accessed by any prepayment meter household – not just its customers – providing you meet the eligibility criteria.

Other firms that currently have active schemes include EDF, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power. You normally need to be behind on energy payments, and you may need to ask for help first through a free money help service such as Citizens Advice. Some schemes ask you to provide evidence of your income and any benefits you receive.

Check if you're eligible for Warm Home Discount scheme

You can get £150 off your electricity bill – normally credited directly to your energy account, or as a prepayment voucher – through the Warm Home Discount scheme. If you're eligible, the discount should be applied by the end of March 2025. First, check if your supplier is part of the scheme on GOV.UK.

If your supplier is on that list, you should get the payment automatically if you, or your partner, received the Guarantee Credit portion of Pension Credit. You should also get the discount automatically in England and Wales if you claim certain benefits and have high energy costs. The list of benefits that qualify you for the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales are:

• Housing Benefit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• "Savings Credit" part of Pension Credit
• Universal Credit

You could also qualify if your household income falls below a certain threshold and you get:

• Child Tax Credit

• Working Tax Credit

If you live in Scotland and you claim benefits, you’ll need to apply for the Warm Home Discount through your supplier under the “broader group” criteria. It is down to each supplier to decide who is eligible in Scotland.

Keep an eye out for Cold Weather Payments

Cold Weather Payments are issued when the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days. Each payment is worth £25, although it is possible to get multiple payments if you go through several spells of freezing weather.

The first 18 postcodes to trigger a Cold Weather Payment this winter were confirmed this week. You need to be living in England or Wales and claiming certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest to be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment. The list of benefits are:

• Pension Credit

• Income Support (if you have any of the following: disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)

• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (if you have any of the following: disability or pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (if you have any of the following: severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)

• Universal Credit (if you're not employed or "gainfully" self-employed, your partner is not employed or "gainfully" self-employed – you or your must also have a health condition or disability and have limited capability for work, or have a child under five living with you)

• Support for Mortgage Interest (if you have any of the following: severe or enhanced disability premium, a pensioner premium, a child who is disabled, Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element or a child under five living with you)

If you live in Scotland, you might be entitled to an annual £50 Winter Heating Payment instead.

Check if you still get the Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment is worth up to £300 and is awarded to pensioner households who claim certain benefits. To get the Winter Fuel Payment this year if you live in England or Wales, you must have been born before September 23, 1958, and claiming one of the following benefits between September 16 and September 22, 2024:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit

Don't be afraid to reach out for help

There are several charities that can offer you support and guidance if you are struggling to pay for your energy, or if you are in energy debt. Don't suffer in silence. Here are some energy-specific debt charities:

• Home Energy Scotland

• National Energy Action (NEA)

• NI Energy Advice

For wider debt help, speak to one of these charities:

• Citizens Advice

• StepChange

• National Debtline

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