How to reduce your energy bills and save money

If you’re having problems paying your bills, don’t bury your head in the sand. Talk to your energy supplier and see what they can do to help. They have to work with you to come up with a payment plan you can afford. You can also ask for:

• a review of your payments and debt repayments
• payment breaks or reductions 
• more time to pay
• access to hardship funds
• advice on how to use less energy.

You can find out more about this on the Ofgem website.

There are various grants and loans available to help you heat your home, including Low Income Winter Heating Assistance and Child Winter Heating Assistance. You may also be able to get an energy grant from your energy supplier. You can find out more about all these grants and loans on the Citizens Advice Scotland website.

It’s also a good idea to get help from the Money Talk Team, as they’ll be able to help you work out what you’re entitled to. As well as providing online advice on the Money Talk Team website, they can also be reached by phone on 0800 028 1456. Or you can visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau for in person support.

One of the best ways to start saving energy is to get a smart meter. This will help you keep track of how much energy you use, so you can cut back on some of the things that are using a lot of energy, and see how well you’re doing. You can find out more about smart meters and book a free installation here.

Leaving your TV, radio or even your kettle on standby instead of turning it off at the plug can be a real energy waster. That little red light is costing you money!

Cutting just a minute off your shower will save some energy. A fun tip to try is listening to music while you’re in the shower – you have one song before you need to get out! This is one the whole family can try.

It sounds basic but turning off lights, the TV, and the radio can make a real difference and it only takes a few seconds. Get the whole family on board for the best results!

Using a bowl cuts down on the amount of water you heat up at each wash.

You'd be surprised by how much of your energy bill is taken up by heating and hot water costs. Turning the heating down just a little bit (even just one degree if you have a digital thermostat) can make a big difference, and you probably won’t even feel it.

Heating water for a washing machine can really increase your energy bill. Try washing your clothes at 30 degrees, but don't forget to use the right type of washing powder!

How many of us fill the whole kettle just to make one cup of tea or coffee? Heating water is a big energy suck, so instead, try only to boil the amount of water you need.

If you’re heating something up (like soup, beans or ready meals), a few minutes in the microwave will use less energy than a longer time on the hob or in the oven.

Get plastic lining for your windows for a cheap alternative to double glazing. You can get clear plastic insulation film which covers the whole window and can really make a difference to your heating bill!

It’s easy to install it yourself so there are no hidden costs.

Try putting down draught excluders at your doors and fill up any gaps you can see around your windows or walls. Even your letterbox can be causing a draught! If you have a fireplace, think about putting in a chimney draught excluder too.

If you and/or the kids are crafty you could make your own draught-excluder for your door – there’s a cute how-to here on the National Trust website, or you could simply stuff an old pair of tights!

One way to save money on your energy bills is to find the cheapest energy supplier for you. While no providers are offering deals below the price cap, depending on the tariff you’re on at the moment, it may still be worth it. There are lots of bill comparison tools available online, make sure you're not paying more than you have to every month. You can find out more about this on the Ofgem website.

Making your home more efficient can help lower your energy bills, but the upfront cost of improvements like insulation or heating often puts people off. The good news is, Home Energy Scotland can help with that – use their funding finder to see what loans or grants you might be eligible for.