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, your energy supplier 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 has 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 and help keep your energy bills accurate, rather than estimated.   

If you don’t already have a smart meter,  speak to your energy supplier about getting one installed.   

Your energy supplier will fit your smart meter for free. 

Your energy supplier must tell you if it has a lower tariff, so check your energy bill or online account for more information.  

Even then, your energy supplier might not offer the best tariff available, so  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 £10 in Great Britain (GB) a year and £9 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 £351 a year on your energy bills in GB and £351 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.   

Support schemes include: 

• Winter Heating Payment (Scotland) 
• Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (Scotland) 
• Cold Weather Payment (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) 
• Winter fuel payment (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) 

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

Find the full list of financial support for home energy efficiency.  

If you’re disabled, you may  be entitled to: 

• Cold Weather Payments (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) 
• Winter Heating Payments (Scotland) 
• Council Household Support Funds

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 2026, Ofgem’s energy price cap is 24.67p per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity and 5.74p per kWh for gas.  

During this time, typical households in England, Scotland and Wales will pay around £1,641 a year on energy bills.

However, many energy suppliers offer tariffs that are better than the price cap. That’s why it’s important to check that you’re on the best available tariff. 

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 struggling with topping up your prepayment meter, the first step is to speak to your energy supplier to see what help is available. 

Many of the support schemes make payments into your bank account rather than topping up your meter. For the Warm Home Discount, your energy supplier will likely issue you a voucher to top up your meter. 

You may also be able to apply for a fuel voucher.  

We don’t issue or administer fuel vouchers. You might be able to get a fuel voucher for your prepayment meter through:

• your local council 
• some food banks (if you already use it for food support) 
• your local Citizens Advice 

If you’re eligible for a fuel voucher, you usually get it as a code sent by letter, text or email. 

You can use this code to add credit to your gas card or electricity key. For more information, visit the Fuel Bank Foundation. 

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. 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. Some of these schemes are fully funded, so you might not need to pay anything. 

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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