How does Rest Less make money
We make money through advertising and commission from affiliate links, which enable us to offer Rest Less as a free service to our users. The content on this page may use affiliate links, which track traffic from our website to a third party provider and enable us to receive a commission or payment from any traffic we refer.
* Affiliate links on this page have an * next to them. We place enormous importance on our editorial independence and the integrity of our content which means that we will never change how we write about something as a result of an affiliate link.
The energy price cap will fall from £1,758 to £1,641 for the average household on April 1, meaning cheaper bills for millions.
The energy price cap limits the amount that an average UK household can expect to pay for their energy bills in a year. The amount you’ll actually pay will depend on your energy usage and the size of your property, so your bills could still be higher than the price cap. Read more in our article What is the energy price cap?
To prevent your energy usage from being estimated and receiving inaccurate bills based on the current higher cap, it’s important to supply your provider with a meter reading as close as possible to April 1. Bear in mind, however, that you do not need to do a meter reading if you have a smart or pre-payment meter.
You can provide meter readings on your supplier’s website, app or on the phone. However, industry body Energy UK recommends checking your supplier’s website for advice on the best way to provide readings, given there are likely to be a large number of people trying to do this before the price cap changes in April.
The simplest way to provide a meter reading is to take a picture of your reading using your phone, and then log into your online energy account to enter the readings. You may also be able to send readings by text message, or using WhatsApp. Alternatively, your provider may have an automated telephone service enabling you to give readings and avoid waiting in a call queue.
Make sure you’re on the best possible tariff
If you haven’t reviewed your energy tariff for a while, it’s well worth checking whether you might be able to cut costs by switching to a more competitive deal.
Sarah Pennells, Consumer Finance Specialist at Royal London said: “This is also a good moment for anyone who hasn’t reviewed their energy deal recently to check what’s available in the coming weeks. The new energy price cap doesn’t take effect until the start of April, so we should see more competitive fixed‑rate tariffs soon being launched.
“If you locked into a fixed rate deal when prices were much higher, your saving may outweigh the cost of paying the exit fee, which many fixed rate tariffs impose. In other cases, the savings may not be enough to justify switching.”
Other tips to reduce energy costs
Even though the energy price cap is reducing, energy bills will still burn a big hole in people’s pockets, so it’s worth seeing whether you might be eligible for any support, such as the Winter Fuel Payment. Find out more in our article 9m pensioners to get Winter Fuel Payment.
You can find plenty of tips for reducing costs in our articles Energy saving tips: how to reduce your bills and 11 practical tips to keep warm and save energy this winter.
If you’re struggling with energy costs, and are falling behind with your bills, it’s always worth talking to your supplier. They often have support schemes available to help the most vulnerable and households on a low income, or you may be able to negotiate a repayment plan. Find out more in our article What can you do if you can’t pay your energy bills? and Is your energy supplier offering grants to pay off energy debts?
If you’re considering switching your energy provider, it’s worth doing plenty of research so you can be certain you’ve found the best possible deal to suit your needs. Comparison websites such as MoneySuperMarket, Uswitch and Compare the Market enable you to compare the latest energy tariffs, whether you’re looking for a fixed or variable deal.
Rest Less Money is on Instagram. Check out our account and give us a follow @rest_less_uk_money for all the latest Money News, updated daily.
Join the discussion
Read our full commenting terms and guidelines