The 9 things you MUST do this week to cut energy bills

As Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis shares the easy £1 way to slash your spending

It's energy meter reading week. And experts – including Martin Lewis – have urged ALL households in the UK to take action to save money on your bills.

Last month, Ofgem announced a new energy price cap which limits the amount suppliers can charge you for gas and electricity. The new energy price cap kicks in this Sunday 1 October and is likely to save the average dual fuel household £151 a year.

As such, we're all being encouraged to make a few changes now to save as much money as we can in the long run – and lower our bills even further.

So, where do we start and just how do we go about making these changes?

Here's everything you need to know.

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• How will I be paid the second DWP Cost of Living payment?
• Exact dates £300 second DWP Autumn Cost of Living payment will be made

1. Top up your electricity meter by £1

Martin Lewis has advised households with an electricity meter to spend £1 to top-up their meters this Sunday (1 October) in order to secure an instant price drop.

The financial expert says that families using a specific type of electricity meter – a non-smart electricity prepayment meter – could end up paying more once the new price tariff kicks in this week.

But by adding a quid to top up your meter on 1 October, you could force it to change to the new lower price immediately.

Speaking on The Martin Lewis Podcast, he said: 'If you're on a prepayment meter and it is not a smart meter, and only electricity here, a peculiarity of those meters is that the rate is dictated by when you top up.

'So what I would suggest you would do on that meter is you use your energy this week without topping up, or if you do need to top up, you only top up a little bit. And then on Sunday you top up.'

He added: 'It doesn't matter if you've got loads of electricity credit and you don't need to top up, just top up it with £1.

'Because the act of topping up on Sunday for most non-smart electricity pre-payment meters, that is what triggers your meter to know you should now be charged the lower price.'

He added that if you were to leave it a few days before topping up, then you'd likely still be paying the September rate in October.

Martin added:

'So of course we want to do it as soon as possible on Sunday, so as soon as possible you are being charged a lower price for the electricity you use.

'If you were to leave it a few days, you would pay a few more days than necessary on the higher rate.'

2. Take a meter reading

While we've warned before about the importance of taking a meter reading as new price changes are introduced, with the new energy price cap coming in this week, it's even more important you do so.

In his 'Latest tip' blog post, Martin warns that anyone who isn't on a smart meter – and who pays their bills by monthly direct debit – should take a meter reading within a few days of either side of the rate change. This is 'to reduce the risk of your supplier estimating you've used more at the higher rate than you actually have'.

By having 2 separate readings, you can show your energy supplier how much energy you've used before and after the price changes.

Those on a smart meter don't need to do anything, as readings are sent to suppliers automatically.

While energy suppliers do usually require you to take regular meter readings anyway, customers who don't do this are billed on estimated usage instead.

Natalie Mathie, energy expert at Uswitch.com, told The Sun that you should regularly submit meter readings to your energy suppliers and that 'submitting a meter reading just before the rates change will ensure you're charged the correct amount for the energy you've used'.

3. Check for any new energy deals

It's always worth checking to see if you're eligible for a different energy deal, especially since fixed price energy deals are finally making a comeback.

These deals, which are usually set close to or slightly higher than standard variable tariffs, offer a rate that won't change for 12 months – so you can be assured that your bills won't increase in that time.

But, since energy bills could drop further in 2024, you may end up paying more than the average.

Analysts currently predict that the price cap will rise in January, then drop again in April – though Martin advises it's likely to stay cheaper than it is today.

4. Check whether you're paying a 'fair and reasonable' amount

Paying your energy bills through direct debit? Now's the time to make sure you are paying the right amount per month (and decrease your monthly payments if they're too high).

This, according to Nathalie, should be a 'fair and reasonable' amount and, if it isn't, you should go directly to your supplier in the first instance to see if it can be changed.

You can check you're paying the right amount by entering your usage into the Money Saving Expert's 'Is your direct debit right?' calculator, for a rough estimate of what you should be paying.

If you do want to lower your monthly bills and your energy supplier won't let you, it'll need to clearly explain why it's chosen that amount for your direct debit.

If you still think the amount is wrong, you can take it to the energy ombudsman to dispute.

5. Check whether you're due any extra support

Are you getting all the support you qualify for this winter? While the Government has not provided a £400 energy support package this year like last year, there is still help out there.

Thousands of families can apply for £150 of help via the Government's Warm Home Discount Scheme, while anyone over retirement age may also be eligible for an extra £600 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help with winter fuel costs.

And there's even a FREE home improvement scheme launches to help save families £400.

In need of extra help? There are also some hardship funds available to low-income families.

Nathalie told The Sun that many energy suppliers also have extra support for customers to offer home insulation, energy-efficient white goods and cash grants.

These include:

• British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Family Fund
• British Gas Energy Trust
• EDF Customer Support Fund
• E.ON and E.ON Next Grants
• Octopus Energy Assist Fund
• OVO Energy
• Scottish Power Hardship Fund

6. Check your thermostat and boiler

Adjusting the temperature on your thermostat can help save you cash too.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that most healthy people should only heat their homes to 18°C, while reducing the flow rate on combination boilers to around 60 degrees Celsius can cut heating bills, adds Nathalie.

And it could save you up to £112 a year.

7. Change your radiator settings.

Likewise, changing your radiator settings by turning off radiator valves in the rooms you don't use as often, or bleeding your radiators, could help shave some money off your bills.

The average household can also save up to £75 a year if they have thermostatic radiator valves fitted, says British Gas.

8. Track your usage

If you've got a smart meter, it's easy to find out how much energy putting the kettle and sticking a wash on actually uses – and help you make much-needed switches.

Which? says that washing clothes at 30°C, for example, is usually fine for clothes that aren't dirty, and could cut energy use by 38% on average, in comparison to a 40°C wash.

Which could all have a BIG impact on your next meter reading.

9. Check for draughts

Finally, consider draught-proofing your home to help keep in the heat (and save on energy bills).

You can do this by fitting door seals between doors and frames and attaching brushes under draughty external doors.

This is the quickest and most cost-effective way to prevent heat escaping, and it could save you up to £50 a year, says Nathalie.

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