Households are being urged to take action before colder weather arrives, with the energy price cap forecast to rise by 4% from 1st October to the equivalent of £1,729 a year.
The increase could push up household costs just as energy use rises as people begin heating their homes.
Price comparison site idealo has spoken with energy expert Llewellyn Kinch, founder and CEO of Switchd, about steps households can take now to reduce their energy bills and avoid common money-saving mistakes.
Check your energy tariff
Kinch advises households to review their tariff before 1st October. “The first thing to check is whether you’re on your supplier’s standard variable tariff, because that’s what the price cap applies to. Millions of households are, and they’ll feel the full rise.”
Fixed deals priced below the incoming cap are available now, and locking one in means your rates are fixed all winter, whatever the market does. Finally, submit a meter reading just before 1st October, so none of your summer usage gets billed at the higher
Use heating efficiently
Households should not automatically turn on their heating simply because autumn has arrived.
“The date on the calendar matters less than the temperature in your home. If it’s comfortably above 18°C indoors, you don’t need the heating yet. When you do switch on, resist the urge to crank the thermostat: it doesn’t heat the house faster; it just heats it for longer and costs more. Set it between 18°C and 21°C, use radiator valves to avoid heating empty rooms, and put the heating on a timer around your actual routine rather than running it all day.”
“Your home loses heat faster the warmer it is, so running the heating all day means constantly paying to replace heat that’s escaping. The one genuine exception is heat pumps, which are designed to run steadily at low temperatures. For everyone with a boiler: timer on, heat when you’re in, off when you’re not.”
Check your boiler
Kinch also recommends checking the boiler before winter. “If you check one thing, make it your boiler’s flow temperature. Most combi boilers leave the factory set hotter than they ever need to be, and turning it down to around 60°C makes the boiler condense properly, which is where its efficiency comes from. Beyond that, bleed any radiators that are cold at the top. 10 minutes of checks in September can quietly pay for themselves all winter.”
Make simple energy savings
Small changes around the home can also help reduce energy use. “Some of the simplest savings are the ones people overlook. Dropping your thermostat by one degree can make a meaningful difference over the course of a winter, while closing curtains and internal doors at dusk helps keep heat in the rooms you’re actually using.”
“And make sure you’re submitting regular meter readings, or that your smart meter is actually sending them. Estimated bills are a common source of overpayment, and you can’t manage usage you can’t see.”
Compare tariffs carefully
Kinch says households should look beyond the headline annual price when comparing energy deals.
“When comparing, look past the headline annual figure, which assumes typical usage, and compare the unit rates and standing charges against your own consumption. Check the exit fees: a fix with high exit penalties removes your flexibility if prices fall. And be honest about how you use energy. If you can shift usage to off-peak, a time-of-use tariff may beat a standard fix. The worst option is doing nothing and defaulting onto the variable rate.”
Reduce electricity use from appliances
Kinch says households should also identify appliances that consume large amounts of electricity.
“Anything creating heat is expensive to run. Tumble dryers, electric showers, ovens, kettles, washing machines on hot cycles: these dominate most electricity bills. So the changes that matter are the boring ones. Dry clothes on an airer when you can. Only boil the water you need. Batch cook so the oven earns its keep, or use an air fryer or microwave for small jobs, which use a fraction of the energy. And the one constant load in every home is the fridge-freezer: keep the coils dust-free, don’t run a second fridge in the garage for six cans of beer, and if yours is over 15 years old, it may be costing more to run than you think.”
For households replacing an older appliance, idealo recommends considering both the purchase price and its potential running costs.
Katy Phillips, Senior Brand & Communications Manager at idealo, says: “The cheapest product at the checkout isn’t always the cheapest product to own. When comparing appliances, consumers should consider the upfront cost alongside energy efficiency, expected usage and the likely running costs over the lifetime of the product.”
Consider smart technology
Households prepared to invest in technology could use smart home products to manage when and how they consume energy.
Phillips says: “Smart technology can give households greater control over how and when they use energy. Smart thermostats, for example, can help automate heating around your routine, while smart plugs can make it easier to manage appliances and avoid leaving devices running unnecessarily.”
“Consumers should also compare the upfront cost, features and potential long term benefits before investing. A smart product isn’t automatically a money saver, but choosing the right product for your home and how you use it can help you get better value from your purchase.”
Prepare before temperatures fall
Kinch recommends using September to prepare for colder weather, including arranging boiler maintenance, checking for draughts, and making sure heating systems are ready.
“September is a good time to get ahead of the colder weather. Make sure any boiler maintenance is sorted before demand for engineers increases, check for obvious draughts and make sure your heating is ready to go before you actually need it. The key is not to wait until the first cold snap to start thinking about your energy bills.”
Taking action before October can help households prepare for the expected price cap increase while improving energy efficiency and keeping winter heating costs under control.