Martin Lewis has been helping millions of people throughout the ongoing energy crisis with regular updates on financial support available and whether customers should switch supplier or tariffs, or “do nothing” until there is more sector stability.
Last week, he hosted the final episode in the current series of Money Show Live, covering the cost of living crisis and different ways to save cash and claim vital support before the tax year ends on April 5.
And now the award winning consumer champion has shared more energy saving tips at this year’s Ideal Home Show, to help households ahead of April bill price hike.
Martin Lewis energy tips ahead of price hike
Exact date to take meter reading
Martin advises: “If you pay by monthly direct debit, I’d urge you to do a meter reading on 31st March, the day before the 54% rise in the April price cap.
“You need to draw a line in the sand with your energy provider, so that you’re saying ‘everything I’ve used up to this point should be charged the cheap rate’, rather than just letting it estimate what you’ve used in March and what you’ve used at the higher rate.”
£150 Council Tax rebate
In April, those in Council Tax bands A to D will get a £150 rebate to help towards their energy bills.
Scots also receiving a Council Tax reduction will also qualify for the non-repayable rebate.
However, if you’re not in band A to D, or receiving a Council Tax reduction, you may be able to get financial support from your local council through its discretionary fund.
Martin advises contacting your local council and explaining your circumstances to see what help may be available.
Find out more about the payment process here.
Prepayment customers meter trick to beat price cap
Martin said: “If you’re on a non-smart prepayment meter, then look to top-up as much as you can before 1st April, because the regulators confirmed to me that you get the rate on the day that you top-up, not the day that you use energy.
“So, that means put as much as you can in during March before the big 1st April price hike, and then you’ll still be able to use it in April but paying the cheaper price, and then not top-up again until you really need to. When you top-up again, it’ll change the price.”
Reduce water usage
Martin explained: “Bizarrely, one way to save on your energy bills is to use less water, because much of the water we use in our home has been heated, so we pay for it to be heated.
“There’s a website called savemoneysavewater.co.uk which collates all the freebees available from the water companies around the country, such as £30 aerated shower heads, which you can get for free, and what that does is you can feel the same shower pressure but you’re actually using far less water to do it.”
Martin added: “It’s worth checking out, go grab yourself a freebee, save on your water - good if you’re on a water bill - and save on your energy because you’re paying to heat less water.”
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