Quick, free changes with immediate impact
Reduce your boiler flow temperature to 60°C. The Energy Saving Trust estimates this saves up to 8% on heating costs annually with no change to comfort. Check your boiler manual or manufacturer's website for instructions.
Use your central heating timer rather than leaving heating on constantly. Heating a well-insulated home to temperature and then maintaining it is more efficient than constant low-level heating.
Turn off standby. Devices on standby use around 9-16% of their operating power. Smart plugs or switching off at the socket makes this automatic.
Government support schemes
Warm Home Discount: £150 off your electricity bill for eligible households. If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, this is applied automatically. Others need to check with their supplier.
Priority Services Register: free registration providing extra protections including advance notice of planned outages, regular meter readings if you cannot read your own meter, and a free annual gas safety check. Register with both your electricity and gas suppliers.
Household Support Fund: local council schemes that can help with energy costs for struggling households. Check your council website.
Longer-term improvements
Loft insulation: if your loft is uninsulated or under-insulated, this is typically the highest-return energy improvement. Free installation may be available through the Great British Insulation Scheme for eligible households.
Cavity wall insulation: suitable for properties built after around 1920 with cavity walls. Can reduce heating costs by up to 15%.
Smart meters: provided free by energy suppliers. They do not save energy directly but accurate real-time data helps identify high-usage patterns.
Check your tariff
The energy price cap sets maximum unit rates and standing charges on standard variable tariffs. Fixed deals may be cheaper or more expensive depending on where prices are heading.
Use Ofgem's comparison service or comparison websites to check whether a fixed deal makes sense for your usage. The standing charge is the same regardless of how much you use — if you are a low user, this makes a big difference.