Energy News

Could you save money on your fuel bills in Big Energy Week?

Tuesday 17 January, 2012

By Kelvin Goodson

Reduce what you spend on heating and powering your home by getting help from advisers across the country as part of Big Energy Week.

People all over the country could cut the cost of their power bills this week as it’s Big Energy Week.

Big Energy Week, which is running until Saturday, sees a variety of organisations and companies come together to offer advice on how to reduce what you spend on heating and powering your home.

Throughout Big Energy Week, Citizens Advice and other organisations will be hosting events from Exeter to Orkney, offering members of the public information on how to cut their energy costs.

According to research published by Citizens Advice, which organises Big Energy Week, 43% of us are worried we won’t be able to afford our next fuel bill, while half of us say that energy bills will be a burden to us financially this year.

Gillian Guy, chief executive at Citizens Advice, said: “We know hikes in prices have put extra pressure on people’s budgets at a time when money is already tight. Day in day out our bureaux are helping people who can’t afford their fuel bills.

“We’re worried that some people are struggling unnecessarily because they’re not on the best deal, live in homes that haemorrhage heat or are not getting all of the financial help available to them.”

Big Energy Week, which is also backed by the government, energy regulator Ofgem, consumer organisations and suppliers, is encouraging people to reduce their energy bills by:

• Contacting their supplier to check they are on the best tariff and payment method, with paying by direct debit being cheaper than paying by cash or cheque
• Using a comparison website - such as Energychoices.co.uk - to see if they can get their energy cheaper elsewhere
• Insulating their walls and loft, with many major energy suppliers offering free or discounted insulation
• Using less energy by turning off lights and switching off appliances at the wall socket
• Contacting their supplier immediately if they are unable to pay their energy bills, as suppliers are required to help customers manage their bills in a way they can afford

To find out where and when Big Energy Week events are taking place in your area, as well as get advice on how to cut your energy bill, go to the Big Energy Week website.