Bill Shock? You Could Be Entitled To £400 Worth Of Energy Support

As part of our shift to produce content that is valuable to our readers, RiiRoo came across this story regarding pre-paid meters.

Customers with pre-payment meters may well be losing out on £400 of redeemable vouchers to help with their energy bills, new research suggests. 

A report published by an in-store payment company revealed that only half of the expected value of vouchers has been redeemed.

The Low Down - The government's Energy Bill Support Scheme is set to provide first installments to households as of 1st October.

A government spokesperson told customers to have their credit applied to their meter as soon as possible in order to ease the burden of energy bills.

The Energy Bill Support Scheme was first announced by the government in May and applies across England, Scotland and Wales. This is just one relief measure that the government has put into place to help those struggling with high energy bills.

Under this scheme, everyone would have their energy bills cut by £400 and will be applied over the span of 6 months.

There will be a reduction of £66 in October and November, and then £67 every month between December and March 2023.

Now, for those that have a traditional meter that is operated either by a key or a card, the help with energy bills comes in the form of a voucher.

Here's a link for more info - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-the-energy-bills-support-scheme-discount.

Paypoint, probably the largest in-store payment company in the UK is expected to process well over 800,000 vouchers in October alone that totaling over £52.8m.

PayPoint and fuel poverty charities are urging any prepayment customers to go through their post in case they have missed the delivery of vouchers, which can only be used within 90 days.

Ways to Save Money On Your Energy Bills

Switch off standby

Did you know that your home appliances still use electricity when they're turned off? Standby mode is a real money-sucker, so make it your mission to switch everything off at the wall.

Stop using your dryer

Hang your clothes up to dry whenever you can. It'll save you money on your energy bills and it's gentle on delicate garments. Win, win!

Draught-proof windows and doors

Unless you have a new-build home, chances are your windows and doors could do with a draught-proofing makeover. It's a quick and easy job that will keep the heat in (and the money in your pocket).

Check for leaks

Leaking taps and pipes can waste a lot of water (and money), so it's important to check for leaks regularly and get them fixed as soon as possible.

Turn the thermostat down

You might think cranking up the heating will make your home warm faster, but it actually uses more energy and costs more money. So play it safe and stick to a comfortable 20-21 degrees.

Turn off lights

Whenever you leave a room, make it a habit to switch off the lights. It'll save you money on your energy bills and it's good for the environment too.

Get a smart meter

A smart meter is a great way to keep track of your energy usage and see where you could be saving money. And the best part is, they're free!

Spend less time in the shower

We thought long and hard about including this one on our list :) But seriously, spending less time in the shower will save you money on your energy bills. So if you can bear to part with a few extra minutes in the morning, it'll be worth it in the long run.

Wash clothes at 30 degrees

Most of us wash our clothes at 40 degrees, but did you know that washing them at 30 degrees uses less energy and is just as effective? So next time you do a load of laundry, switch that dial down and save some cash.

Swap your bath for a shower

Baths are awesome, but the problem is, you use a hell of a lot of water filling up the tub. So if you're looking to save money on your energy bills, try swapping your bath for a shower instead.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking to save money on your energy bills, there are plenty of things you can do. From simple things like turning off lights and appliances to more long-term measures like draught-proofing your windows and doors, there are plenty of ways to cut down on your energy usage (and your bills).

What are some of the things you've done to save money on your energy bills

Let us know in the comments below!