HOUSEHOLDS are braced for even MORE energy bill price rises as bills could hit £4,400 in January; here’s what to do before the climbs.
Millions could be left scrambling to find hundreds of extra pounds for their bills in January, when the price cap is expected to rise again.
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You could be paying £4,400 on your energy bills this winterCredit: Getty
Bills were previously estimated to rise to £3,358 from October and £3,616 from January.
But new predictions from energy consultancy Auxilione indicate that these rises could be much higher than initially thought.
He estimated bills could reach £3,687 in October and £4,400 in January.
Auxilione said: “We are releasing today’s view with a caveat that we will need to re-do our analysis this week to ‘double check’ that the outputs are correct.
“Make sure you’re seated before you continue reading.”
The new estimates follow a massive billing change announced by Ofgem this week, which will see bills rise more frequently.
Ofgem reviews the energy price cap, which limits how much suppliers can charge customers, every six months.
But this week it announced it will now be revised twice as often, meaning bills are likely to rise not just twice, but four times, a year now.
Ofgem admitted that customers “face a very difficult winter” but that it was working with the government and suppliers to see what additional support could be given.
Auxilione warned bills could rise to £4,700 in April, but said a prediction that far ahead was likely to be unreliable.
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to avoid excursions.
But there are steps you can take to lower your energy bills.
Here’s what to do NOW before the hikes.
Check for overpayments
Dozens of suppliers have fallen victim to the energy crisis and collapsed as a result of spiraling prices.
Around 26 suppliers dropped out last year.
But be sure to check your bills if you’re one of the thousands of customers affected and have switched to a new provider.
The Sun has previously reported that customers have seen payments from their old and new suppliers.
You want to make sure you’re not paying for a billing error.
Resolver consumer expert Martyn James said the best way to check if you’re being overcharged on your bills is to track how much energy you’re using.
The best way to do this is to take regular gas and electricity meter readings and take pictures.
If you feel that you are not using as much energy as you are being charged for, you should contact your supplier and send them the pictures that you need to test and get a better rate.
If you have tried to resolve a problem with your supplier and are getting nowhere, the Energy Ombudsman will look into your case and see if they can help you resolve the complaint.
Help resolve billing issues, installations and delays, loss of service, customer service, and switching providers.
If they help you accept your complaint, they can only help you get your bill back for 12 months.
Check your appliances
While the sun is shining, you might not think much about winter.
But before the cold weather hits, you’ll want to make sure all your appliances are running as efficiently as possible, or you could be hit with a big bill.
For example, common boiler problems such as rust and humming could indicate that it is not working properly.
Fix them now to avoid problems in the future, or a surprise engineer’s bill.
The same goes for your radiators.
It’s a good idea to bleed them, even when you’re not using them.
Air bubbles can get trapped inside, which can add hundreds to your bill if they stay.
Reduce your usage
Reducing your energy use is a great way to regain some control over your energy bills.
Don’t leave devices on standby –
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that between 9 and 16% of electricity used in homes is through standby appliances.
On a £500 bill, this could add up to £80.
Next time you do laundry, put in a full load and turn the temperature down to 30°C to save money.
And don’t turn on the tap while brushing your teeth – this mistake could add up to £60 a year to your bills.
See what help you can get
There are loads of grants and energy schemes open to help if you’re struggling, such as British Gas’s hardship fund, which can lend you up to £1,500 in free cash towards bills.
There is also a one-off fuel voucher from your energy supplier if you have a prepaid meter.
Contact your provider directly to see what they offer, what the eligibility requirements are and how much you can get.
If you don’t know who your supplier is, you can find out here.
In terms of council funds, the Home Support Fund has been expanded to help families with the rising cost of living.
This help could include cash grants to pay bills or cover food costs; help will depend on where you live.
For example, residents in Blackpool can get up to £300, depending on their circumstances.
To find out what support is available in your area, contact your local council.