Ten tips to beat energy price hikes

1. Check out tariffs

Price comparison Web sites such as www.theenergyshop.com look at the different providers to calculate how much you could save by switching to a different supplier. You can also get a list of the supply companies operating in your area, together with the prices they charge, from Energywatch, the gas and electricity watchdog, by calling 0845 906 0708.

2. Are you entitled to benefits?

Billions of pounds' worth of benefits go unclaimed every year and fuel-poor households could be entitled to significant rebates. If you are aged 60 or over, you can claim a tax-free Winter Fuel Payment of 250 pounds or more, which should be paid in automatically if you receive a State Pension. If you are over 60 and not receiving the payment, call the government's Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 08459 151 515.

3. Could you sign up for social tariffs?

Many energy suppliers have begun to finance social tariffs, which offer fuel discounts of up to 300 pounds a year to the elderly, the disabled, families with young children and those on income support. To find out more, call your energy supplier and ask if you could benefit.

4. Get free advice

Ron Cambell of National Energy Action advises all customers to freephone 0800 512 012 to speak to their local Energy Efficiency Advice centre. These centres also maintain complete listings of all grants and sources of benefit aid and home improvement available in your local area.

5. Get a grant to improve the energy efficiency of your home

An estimated 66 percent of home heat is lost through poorly insulated roofs and walls, and fixing the problem could represent a sizeable saving on your energy bills. Government grants of up to 4,000 pounds are available to help cover the cost through the "Warmfront" scheme. Grants cover loft and cavity wall insulation, draft prevention, repairs of faulty boilers and assessment of your home's energy status. To check your eligibility, freephone 0800 316 6011.

6. Get energy-efficient light bulbs

Your choice of light bulb can make even more of a difference to your final bill than turning off the lights when you leave a room. Energy-efficient light bulbs last up to 10 times longer and use a fraction of the power required by ordinary bulbs. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that each energy-efficient light bulb saves the average household 7 pounds a year in electricity bills.

7. Mind the radiators

Avoid putting large items of furniture in front of radiators as they block heat flow. If you dry your clothes indoors, hang them over drying racks rather than dampening the heating power of your radiators with soggy laundry. You can also wrap tinfoil around pieces of cardboard and slot them behind your radiators to reflect heat back into the room.

8. Curtain call

Thicker curtains retain more heat, especially if they're cut to fit your windows properly, resting just below the bottom of the pane. Heat can be funnelled away under curtains that are too long, especially if the radiators are located underneath the windows in a room. Cheap net curtains provide an extra layer of insulation and help to retain heat whilst letting natural light into a room.

9. Turn off your computer and other electrical appliances. Huge amounts of energy are wasted every day by power-hungry laptops and desktops being left switched on whilst not in use. Computer monitors in screen-save mode reduce energy consumption by only a few watts. Up to 75 percent of energy used to power home electronics is used when these devices are "switched off", costing British households an estimated 800 million a year in fuel bills. Set your computer to hibernate when you aren't using it, and take an extra 30 seconds to switch it off properly at the end of the day. Dimming the monitor by just a few settings of brightness can also save energy.

10. Insulate your loft

Many houses have lofts that are not insulated at all, meaning that a lot of heat escapes through the roof. Figures from the Energy Savings Trust suggest that by adding 250 mm loft insulation where none was present could save 80-100 pounds annually on your energy bills.

(Sources: Energywatch, Winter Fuel Payment Helpline, National Energy Action, Energy Saving Trust)

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