Help with your energy bills

Depending on where you live, you can get energy advice from several support programmes that we run. 

Call our free helplines, where our expert advisors will talk with you about your circumstances and how you can get help with energy bills. 

If you’re struggling with energy bills, get in touch with your supplier as soon as you can. Under rules set by Ofgem, they must work with you on a payment plan that you can afford. 

You can also ask them about: 

• a payment break 
• giving you more time to pay 
• customer hardship funds 

While the supplier doesn’t have to agree to any of these, they must still work with you to find a solution. If they don’t, you can make a complaint. Citizens Advice have more information about how you can complain, including letter templates and next steps should you fail to get help. 

Smart meters let you keep track of how much energy you’re using. They provide readings to suppliers to help keep your energy bills accurate, rather than estimated.  

The government is aiming for at least 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales to have a smart meter by the end of 2025. If you don’t already have one, you can speak to your energy supplier about getting one installed.  

Smart meters are completely free and there’s no upfront cost to install them. 

Check which tariff you’re currently on with your energy provider, as there may be a less expensive option. Alternatively, you could look at switching energy supplier. Comparison sites can help you find a supplier with a better deal, and some may even make the switch for you. 

Making some small changes can make a big difference to your overall energy costs. 

For example:  

• Swapping just one bath a week for a four-minute shower can save £9 in Great Britain (GB) a year and £10 in Northern Ireland (NI). 
• Switching your appliances off at the plug saves around £45 a year in GB and £55 in NI. 

Read our top 10 quick energy saving tips to save up to £356 a year on your energy bills in GB and £356 in NI.  

If you’re a tenant, we also have energy saving tips for renters that don’t rely on getting landlord permission. 

If you’re receiving certain benefits, you might be able to get extra financial support for your energy bills.   

Many of these depend on where you live and what specific benefits you’re entitled to.  

In Scotland, for example, those on certain benefits are eligible for the Winter Heating Payment. Bus those in England, Wales or Northern Ireland might be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment.  

Some local councils also have a Household Support Fund for vulnerable people or those that can’t pay for essentials like energy bills.  

Find financial support for home energy efficiency. 

You may also be entitled to Cold Weather or Winter Heating Payments or council Household Support Funds if you’re disabled.  

Find out what help with energy bills is available for disabled people. 

The energy price cap limits what energy suppliers can charge for their default tariff, and it’s reviewed every three months. 

Between 1 April and 30 June 2025, Ofgem’s energy price cap is 27p per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity and 7p per kWh for gas. 

During this time, typical households in England, Scotland and Wales will pay around £1,849 annually on energy bills. And from 1 July 2025, this will go down by £129 a year, to £1,720.

For more information, read our guide to the energy price cap. If you live in Northern Ireland, visit Utility Regulator to see how your bills compare. 

If you’re on a prepayment meter, you’ll pay the same cost per unit of energy as people who pay by direct debit. This is good news because people on pre-payment meters used to pay more. 

If you have a prepayment meter, your energy supplier should apply the new rate automatically. You don’t need to apply or request vouchers. 

Here are some more suggestions on how you can lower your energy use at home. 

When you need to replace an appliance, look at the energy ratings on the replacement for an idea of how much energy it may use. Energy efficiency ratings are usually displayed on multicoloured labels, with ratings ranging from A (very efficient) to G (least energy efficient)  

Washing machines, dishwashers, and tumble dryers tend to use the most energy out of typical home appliances. 

Also, think about what size appliance is right for you when it comes to choosing what’s best. For example, a larger fridge will likely use more energy than a smaller one, even if it has a better energy rating.  

If you’re unsure where to start, look at the appliances that use the most electricity. 

Installing home insulation is an effective way to make sure that your home isn’t losing heat needlessly. 

What you can install depends on your budget and what kind of house you live in. But there are ways to insulate your home that you can even do yourself.  

There are schemes available to help make these more affordable. For example, the Great British Insulation Scheme helps toward part or all the cost of insulation to improve your home’s energy efficiency.  

If you have a gas, oil or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) boiler, you can install heating controls to make it more energy efficient. These controls let you warm the house when you need it, which helps you avoid wasting energy. 

If you’re using electric storage heaters, learn how to use your electric heater controls to lower the cost of keeping warm.  

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