Households urged to take energy meter readings
It's ahead of the next price rise on Saturday
Households are being urged to take their energy meter readings and and to try to submit them, before Saturday.
It's as the prices rise from October 1.
It's to prevent firms from estimating usage and charging for energy used before the cut-off date, but at the higher rate.
The average household energy bill will rise from £1,971 to a frozen £2,500 under the energy price guarantee announced by Prime Minister Liz Truss earlier this month.
It's an increase of 27% from the previous price cap, which limited the rate providers can charge customers on a standard variable tariff.
The Government's plan only caps the cost per unit that households pay, with actual bills still determined by how much energy is consumed.
Support
Households will receive a non-repayable £400 payment from the Government as part of the cost-of-living support package, paid directly to energy accounts over six months in instalments of £66 and £67.
Overall, household bills will still be 96% higher than last year.
Households will be hoping they do not experience a repeat of the wide scale crash of energy firms' websites ahead of the last price cap increase on April 1, when millions of customers rushed to submit readings at once.
At the time, firms described the situation as "unprecedented" and sought to calm customer anxiety by stressing that they could submit readings over the following days without being penalised.
Different ways to submit meter readings
Industry body Energy UK said high call volumes and website traffic were expected and recommended customers check beforehand for the best way to submit readings as most suppliers were allowing for a few days either side of October 1.
Suppliers offered numerous channels including text, email, apps and online account submissions, but these varied.
Chief executive of Energy Action Scotland, Frazer Scott, said: "This week, every household across the UK must make sure it submits a meter reading to their energy firm to avoid paying a penny more than they absolutely have to when prices go up on October 1.
"Fuel poverty is at record levels, levels of energy efficiency improvements are simply too low to provide respite and financial support is just a sticking plaster on the deepest of wounds.
"As unit costs for electricity and gas push bills higher still in October, communities will suffer and take years to recover. Meanwhile the impact of fuel poverty will be felt on the NHS and social care system and lives will be needlessly lost."
Three million households 'won't cope'
Research by comparison site Uswitch suggests a fifth of households (20%) will only be able to cope with rising bills this winter by cutting back their usage.
Another three million households - more than one in 10 homes (11%) - will not be able to cope with rising bills whatever they do, the poll indicates.
Some 53% of households plan to turn appliances off at the wall to cut costs, while 46% plan to turn the thermostat down and 35% say they will reduce the number of times they use their oven.
Nearly one in three billpayers (32%) are also planning to push back the day they usually turn on their heating and 37% will only heat certain rooms in their home.
Energy spokesman at Uswitch.com, Ben Gallizzi, said: "Energy bills are still due to rise in October despite the Government support, and we know that many people are feeling anxious about the winter ahead. electricity meter
"Keeping on top of your home energy consumption will be especially important during the coldest months when the heating comes on."
How you can save energy in your home:
Switch off appliances at the plug
Switching appliances off standby can save you roughly £45 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Most electrical appliances can be turned off at the plug without affecting any programming. You can also get a standby saver or smart plug which allows you to turn all your appliances off standby in one go.
If you need to replace anything, you can cut your electricity bills by choosing the most energy-efficient model.
Keep the heat in
You can lose heat through draughts around doors and windows, gaps around the floor, or through the chimney. Drought proofing your home can save around £25 a year on energy bills. Double glazing is also much better at keeping heat in than single glazing, something to consider if you're replacign your windows.
Insulating both your loft and cavity walls can save you as much as £290 a year. Laying loft insulation to a thickness of 270mm in a typical non-insulated three-bedroom semi could trim £135 a year from energy bills, as less heat will be lost through the roof.
Install and use central heating controls
Having a room thermostat, programmer and thermostatic radiator valves could save a typical home £75 a year.
Smart thermostats mean you can operate your heating remotely via the internet using your mobile phone, tablet or computer. Some can also learn your routine or adjust your settings depending on the weather forecast, meaning you only use what you need.
Smart thermostatic radiator valves, also enables you to control exactly which rooms are heated, and which aren't if they're not regularly used.
Get your boiler serviced or replaced
According to the Energy Savings Trust; condensing gas boilers typically have the lowest running costs to provide heating and hot water. If you currently heat your house using electricity, it's likely your bills are higher than the UK average.
For most households, central heating is responsible for more than half of your energy bill each year, so replacing an old, inefficient gas boiler with a modern energy-efficient one could make a big difference to your payments, although obviously it would cost money to have installed.
Turn off lights if you’re not using them
It's a simple one, but something we can all do - turn your lights off when you're not using them or when you leave a room. This will save you money on your annual energy bills.
LED Lights
Speaking of lights, switching to LED lights can also save you a lot of money. LEDs are the most energy-efficient light bulbs around, and use almost 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
An LED light bulb costs around £1.71 a year to run, compared to £8.42 for an old-style halogen bulb. When you add up all the lightbulbs in your house, that can mean some big savings.
Save money on washing
Try to use your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher temperatures, particularly if the clothes aren't too dirty. It will save energy heating up the water.
Avoid using a tumble dryer for your clothes: dry clothes on racks inside where possible or outside in warmer weather to save cash.
Also make sure you don't run a half empty washer or dishwasher, only running these appliances when they're full means fewer washes which saves energy and water and of course – money.
Spend less time in the shower
Keeping your shower time to just 4 minutes could save a typical household £70 (£35 in NI) a year on their energy bills according to the Energy Saving Trust (Aug 22)
Be wiser with how you use electricity in your kitchen
Avoid overfilling the kettle to save money on your electricity bill.
You could also consider fitting an aerator onto your existing kitchen tap to reduce the amount of water coming out without affecting how it washes or rinses. An aerator is a small gadget with tiny holes – they attach to the spout of taps and are cheap and easy to install.
And as mentioned before - only run your dishwasher when it is full to reduce the amount of water and electricity you use.