In the Autumn budget, Chancellor John Healey announced that about 20 million households across the UK will get a £100 discount on their energy bills this winter.

The “Household Energy Payment” will grant households in council tax bands A to D a one-off automatic rebate directly to their bank accounts in January 2027.

Households can check whether they would be eligible for the £100 energy bill payment using the government’s own postcode checker.

But even so, more than nine million households are heading into winter owing money to their energy supplier or with no credit on their account, according to a poll from price comparison and switching website Uswitch.

The survey found that 43 per cent of bill payers intended to put on extra clothing instead of switching their heating on, while one in 12 planned to reduce spending on food to cover energy costs.

The findings followed an increase in Ofgem's energy price cap on 1 October, when it rose by 3.6 per cent to £1,723 for a typical household.

Forecasters are currently predicting a further rise of approximately 22 per cent in January.

However, there are several proactive steps you can take ahead of winter to lower your energy bills.

Here are seven things to do now if you are still worried about energy tariffs.

1. Compare tariffs and consider a fixed rate

Whether you're on a smart meter or not, taking regular meter readings will make sure you're not paying estimated bills, and you'll avoid inaccurate billing when price caps change.

“Submitting a gas meter reading will also stop your supplier from over or under-billing you,” Gareth Kloet, energy expert at Go.Compare told the Press Association.

“You definitely want to submit a meter reading before the next price cap, particularly if you’re not on a fixed-rate tariff.”

He added that regularly sending readings can help with budgeting.

“You might increase your direct debit to pay off future rising bills, or you might be in credit, and want to reduce it,” Kloet.

There are millions of households in the UK on standard variable tariffs (SVT) right now who could save themselves money by switching to a fixed-rate tariff.

2. Take a meter reading and switch to direct debit

“The SVT is an energy supplier’s default tariff, and is subject to the whims of the market,” Kloet explained.

"So if you've just moved house, or come off a fixed rate, you'll be on an SVT.

“The other choices are a tracker tariff, which is a bit like a variable tariff. It might offer you a saving, for example, £50 off compared to the current price cap. Or you can opt for a fixed-rate tariff, which locks in unit prices and standing charges for a set period, typically 12 to 24 months.”

Price comparison sites can also help customers identify better rates by comparing their current tariff against available options.

“Switching to a fixed rate won’t always be the cheapest option as it depends on what you think is going to happen to gas and electricity prices, but the expectation is that it’ll be rising for at least the next quarter, so fixing for 12 months may be sensible,” Kloet advised.

In addition, paying your energy bill by direct debit could save you a significant amount of cash a year.

“If you are paying on receipt of a paper bill you will be paying a premium and you should just switch to direct debit to save cash,” Kloet advised.

3. Use smart technology to manage energy use

Smart meters help you save money by providing real-time data and removing guesswork from your energy bills.

“You can check if you have a smart meter by looking for a digital display, otherwise it will have dials,” Kloet told the Press Association.

"If you do have a smart meter, many energy firms have an app to help you track usage where you can log in, and it will show how much you're using in a simple graph format.

“A smart energy monitor can also help you track real-time consumption and identify specific appliances that are wasting energy.”

The vast majority of energy customers are on flat-rate tariffs, which means they pay the same unit price regardless of time of day.

However, some households can still access the two-rate meter, known as Economy 7.

“Check your energy bill and if it has two meter readings on it, that means you can use the cheaper off-peak rate,” Kloet advised.

4. Optimise boiler and thermostat settings

In most homes, central heating is the most significant household energy expense.

“Keeping your thermostat between the recommended range of 18-21C, turning off heating in unused rooms, setting working radiators between 2-3 on the dials, and adjusting boiler flow temperatures on the boiler can all significantly reduce costs,” Kloet said.

After heating, cooking is the next most expensive.

“Using air fryers or microwaves instead of ovens, switching to LED bulbs, not forgetting your Christmas lights, and avoiding standby power can save money,” highlights Kloet. “Even boiling just the amount of water needed in a kettle can save cash.”

He also recommended closing the curtains as soon as it gets dark.

“If you’ve got a radiator under your window, and most people do, and you have Venetian blinds, point the blinds upwards so the heat that’s rising is reflected into the room,” Kloet reccomended.

“Also reflectors behind radiators direct heat back into the room instead of being absorbed into the wall.”

The Winter Fuel Payment is worth between £100 and £300, and most eligible people receive it automatically.

Cold Weather Payments provide £25 for each qualifying seven-day period of freezing weather.

5. Check if you’re eligible for financial support

Beyond the freshly announced £100 Household Energy Payment, the Warm Home Discount gives a £150 discount on the electricity bill for those who meet the required benefit and household criteria.

In England, customers can access the Crisis and Resilience Fund for emergency cash and fuel vouchers.

In Wales, emergency grants are available from the Welsh Government Discretionary Assistance Fund, and the Scottish Welfare Fund in Scotland.

6. Contact your energy supplier for help

You can check what benefits you're entitled to on MoneyHelper or on Turn2us benefits calculator.

Many people worry about getting into debt with their energy bill, but it's important nobody puts themselves at risk by turning their heating off, or ignores mounting bills.

“If you’re worried about your energy bill, I can’t over-stress how important it is to speak to your energy supplier. They will do their absolute utmost to help you get back up to date – they don’t just cut people off,” said Kloet.

“Normally they give you a repayment plan that would allow you to recover the debt over the period in which it accrued. And some energy suppliers also have crisis and hardship funds.”

7. Register for extra support if you’re vulnerable

The free nationwide priority services register provides extra support for vulnerable individuals who are of state pension age, with a disability or chronic illness, mental health condition, pregnant or has children under five.

“If there’s any vulnerability in your property, sign up to the priority services register with the utility supplier,” advises Kloet. “While it doesn’t directly lower bills, it means that if anything happens to their supply or help is needed with meter readings, they will be prioritised over somebody who is fit and able.”

Read More