Huw Irranca-Davies

Labour Party | Ogmore

Plan Now, Save this Winter

As we enjoy our barbeques and visits to Rest Bay this summer, the dark, cold nights of winter may seem like a long way away. But with gas and electricity prices rising steadily, a little planning now could save you over £100 on your energy bills during the coming winter months.

Last month EDF Energy increased the price of their gas by 19% and their electricity by 8%, and over the next two weeks British Gas and Powergen will follow suit, raising their gas prices by 12% and 18% and their electricity by 9% and 9% respectively.

Across Ogmore businesses and households have begun to feel the pinch in their pockets and with prices set to continue rising, this winter could be a challenging time, especially for the more vulnerable members of our communities.

The Government has provided assistance to tackle fuel poverty through, for example, the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioner households. There is also a Cold Weather Payment to help those with low incomes if we face sustained low temperatures.

Some of the energy companies are also seeking to mitigate the impact of their price increases by introducing a range of special tariffs and initiatives to help vulnerable customers, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities or on low incomes. You can apply to register for the Priority Service Register by calling your energy supplier.

But if you really want to make sure you get the best prices this winter then the best thing you can do as a consumer is vote with your feet. There are now several helpful websites and hotlines devoted to helping householders reduce their energy costs by comparing their current bills with what they would pay if they switched suppliers or payment method.

There are some really good deals out there. For example, a ‘medium’ gas user paying quarterly bills totalling £629 per year to one of the big energy companies could be paying £511 if they switch supplier and pay by Direct Debit.

The independent gas and electricity watchdog Energywatch provide a wealth of advice on how you can cut your energy costs on their website www.energywatch.org.uk and they can also be contacted by phone on 08459 060708.

It is definitely worth investigating whether you are able to save money to ensure that you can stay warm for less this winter.