A couple who are selling up their home before the new energy price cap comes into force hope to save hundreds of pounds each year.
Ava Kelly, 36, who lives with her partner Alex Pope, 33, in the West Midlands, told The Mirror that rising bills played a big part in their decision to up sticks.
The pair live in a five-bed detached house but are downsizing to a three-bed property this weekend.
Ava says she currently pays £280 for her gas and electricity each month.
She doesn’t know exactly how much she’ll pay in her new home, but is hopeful having fewer rooms will result in a reduction.
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“The neighbours have said the houses are well insulated and they didn't pay a lot last winter,” said Ava.
“I’m hoping we will see a reduction. Our current house is three storeys with a lot of rooms we don’t use.
“I’m already being conscious of not wasting energy, using appliances not in off-peak times.”
Downsizing her property also means Ava and Alex should pay less in council tax, as well as a smaller mortgage.
“We’ll have cleared most of our mortgage with this move. Our repayments will drop from £2,000 a month to just under £1,000,” she said.
“My council tax now is £234 a month. I also didn't get the council tax rebate as the band is too high.
“I hope it will go down once I move but I'm not sure until I move in. I would hope it is a band or two lower.”
Research from estate agent Purplebricks released this summer suggests many other homeowners were also think about downsizing to save money.
More than half of all house hunters it spoke to would be willing to downsize if it would cut their bills, it found.
Of those in the process of downsizing, 60% were doing so specifically to reduce household costs.
It comes as households prepare for another huge rise in energy bills, with Ofgem set to announce its new price cap rate this Friday.
Experts at Cornwall Insight predict the price cap could hit £3,553 in October, before rising to £4,650 in January.
This is up from the current price cap level of £1,971, introduced in April this year.
Five ways to cut your energy bill
Phil Foster, owner of British Business Energy, has shared five tips to help lower your energy bills this winter.
"With energy bills at an all time high and set to increase further in October, there has never been a more important time to take steps to try to offset the increased costs," he said.
"There are things you can implement now into your home which will reduce your energy bills this winter."
1. Bleed your radiators
If air is trapped in your radiators it will mean your heating system won't work as efficiently as possible, wasting energy.
Bleed them now in order to reap the benefits when the heating is turned back on this winter.
2. Get a smart meter
The Government has urged energy suppliers to offer everyone in the country a smart meter by the year 2024.
A smart meter takes your readings automatically - it then sends those readings to both you and your energy supplier.
This means that the supplier gets more frequent and more accurate readings.
It also means that you get a clearer picture of how and when you use electricity - allowing you to make informed choices about where you might be able to cut back.
3. Insulate your home
Spend time this summer making sure your home is well insulated and draught free, and you'll reap the benefits when your gas bill arrives in Winter.
Insulating your loft and cavity walls can save you hundreds of pounds over the course of a year.
4. Choose energy efficient appliances
If you're shopping for a new household appliance, keep in mind investing in an energy efficient device.
While devices such as washing machines and dish washers with an A energy rating may cost more now, you'll make the money back in no time through energy savings.
5. Turn things off standby
Items left on standby are continuing to drain electricity, so get into the habit of turning items off at the wall.
If you don't think you'll remember to keep doing this, invest in some smart plugs, which will turn items off if they're not being used.
