Best Ways to Cut UK Home Energy Bills Right Now
Energy prices have hit every UK household hard. The good news is that there are proven, practical steps you can take today to reduce your gas and electricity bills — without sacrificing comfort.
Whether you own your home or rent, there are smart, low-cost changes that can trim your bills immediately, plus bigger upgrades that lock in long-term savings. This guide walks you through everything from quick wins and tariff checks to insulation, heating controls and government support available across the UK.
Use this page as your step-by-step plan to cut waste, improve comfort and stay in control of what you spend on energy.
Check Your Home Energy Savings
Answer a few quick questions to see how much you could save on your gas and electricity bills.
1. Quick wins to lower your energy bills this month
Start with the easy, low-cost actions that deliver fast savings. Even small changes in how you use heating, hot water and appliances can noticeably reduce your gas and electricity bills.
Turn your thermostat down slightly
In many UK homes, simply turning the room thermostat down by 1°C can cut heating costs by up to 10% while still keeping you comfortable. If your home is usually at 21–22°C, try 19–20°C and use layers or a throw on the sofa instead of blasting the heating.
- • Ideal main living area temperature: around 18–20°C for most people
- • Bedrooms can be cooler: 16–18°C
Use heating timers and zone control
Heating an empty house is like pouring money down the drain. Use your programmer or smart thermostat to heat your home only when you need it, and only the rooms you actually use.
- • Set shorter heating schedules for weekday mornings and evenings
- • Turn radiators down or off in spare rooms and hallways
- • Close doors to keep heat where you need it
Reduce hot water and shower costs
Hot water is a hidden energy cost in UK homes. Cut waste without feeling the difference.
- • Fit an efficient shower head — modern eco models use less water with the same pressure
- • Aim for 4–5 minute showers instead of long baths
- • Set your hot water cylinder thermostat to around 60°C — hot enough for safety, not so hot you need to add lots of cold water
Cut standby power and appliance waste
Many TVs, consoles, routers and kitchen appliances draw power 24/7. It all adds up over a year.
- • Use switchable extension leads so you can turn groups of devices off at the wall
- • Avoid leaving TVs, game consoles and PCs on standby overnight
- • Always fill the washing machine and dishwasher, and use eco cycles where possible
2. Switch to a better tariff and pay the right way
Every kilowatt hour you use is charged at a rate set by your energy supplier and your specific tariff. Making sure you are on the right deal — and paying in the most efficient way — can bring meaningful savings without changing how you use energy at home.
Check if you are on a standard variable tariff
Standard variable tariffs are often the default if you have never switched, moved home recently, or your fixed deal has ended. They are usually among the most expensive tariffs per unit of energy.
Use a trusted comparison service or speak to your supplier to see if there is a cheaper tariff that suits your usage pattern, such as time-of-use tariffs for homes with electric vehicles or storage heaters.
Pay by monthly Direct Debit
Most UK suppliers offer lower unit rates to customers who pay by monthly Direct Debit. It also helps smooth your bills across the year, avoiding large winter bills when your heating is on more often.
Provide up-to-date meter readings (or use a smart meter) so your Direct Debit reflects real usage, not supplier estimates.
Make smart meters work for you
Smart meters are being rolled out across the UK. They automatically send your usage data to your supplier, reducing estimated bills, and give you an in-home display so you can see what energy you are using in near real time.
- • Track your daily spend and spot unusual spikes
- • Test different behaviours — like turning off extra heaters — and see instant impact
- • Avoid estimated bills and surprise charges
Could you be on a cheaper tariff?
Many households have never switched supplier or tariff. If it has been more than a year since you reviewed your deal, there is a good chance you are overpaying.
Use your latest bill to check:
- • Your current tariff name
- • Your annual usage in kWh (gas and electricity)
- • Your unit rate and standing charge
Armed with these figures, you can quickly compare tariffs and potential savings.
3. Insulation: keep the heat you already pay for
One of the most effective ways to cut UK home energy bills is to stop heat escaping in the first place. Insulation reduces the amount of gas or electricity your heating system needs to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
Because energy prices are high, insulation measures often pay for themselves quicker than you might expect — especially if you qualify for grants or support schemes.
Loft and roof insulation
In an uninsulated home, up to a quarter of heat can be lost through the roof. Topping up your loft insulation to the recommended depth (typically around 270mm of mineral wool) is one of the quickest, most cost-effective upgrades.
Even if you already have some loft insulation, bringing it up to modern standards can still deliver noticeable savings each year.
Wall insulation
The walls of your home lose a large amount of heat. The right solution depends on your property type:
- • Cavity walls: these can often be filled with insulation materials from the outside
- • Solid walls: can be insulated internally or externally as part of a renovation
Properly insulated walls make your home warmer and cut heating bills every year.
Floors, draughts and glazing
Heat also sneaks away through floors, gaps and windows. You can tackle many of these issues yourself:
- • Fit draught excluders to front and back doors
- • Seal gaps around skirting boards and floorboards
- • Use thick curtains and close them at dusk to keep warmth in
- • Consider secondary glazing film for single-glazed windows
4. Upgrade your heating system and controls
Your boiler, radiators and controls work together to keep your home warm. Getting this system running efficiently means you burn less gas or electricity to get the same comfort.
Improve boiler efficiency
If your gas boiler is more than 10–15 years old, it may be operating well below the efficiency of modern condensing models. A new A-rated boiler can convert more of the fuel it burns into usable heat, which can reduce your gas consumption.
Even without replacing the boiler, you can often tweak settings for better performance:
- • Set the flow temperature appropriately for your system
- • Bleed radiators so they heat up evenly
- • Get the boiler serviced regularly to keep it running efficiently
Use smart thermostats and TRVs
Smart heating controls give you much finer control over when and how your home is heated, which can lead to meaningful savings with minimal effort.
- • Programmable smart thermostats let you set tailored schedules for weekdays and weekends
- • Smart radiator valves (TRVs) heat individual rooms to different temperatures
- • Many systems use geofencing to turn the heating down automatically when the last person leaves home
Over time, these small optimisations help keep your energy bills under control.
Consider low-carbon heating where suitable
In some UK homes, particularly well-insulated properties off the gas grid, low-carbon heating like air source heat pumps can reduce running costs compared to older electric, LPG or oil systems.
While installation is a bigger project, government support and long-term energy savings can make it an attractive option for certain households.
Important:
Always use Gas Safe registered engineers for gas work, and qualified installers for heat pumps and other major upgrades. Safe, correctly installed systems are usually cheaper to run and last longer.
5. Make the most of energy-efficient appliances and lighting
Every appliance in your home contributes to your total electricity bill. Choosing efficient models when it is time to replace old ones can gradually bring your usage down year after year.
LED lighting
Replacing halogen or old incandescent bulbs with LEDs is one of the most cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades. LEDs use up to 80% less electricity and last much longer.
Focus first on rooms where lights are on the longest, such as living rooms, kitchens and hallways.
Efficient white goods
When replacing large appliances such as fridges, freezers, washing machines and tumble dryers, choose highly rated energy-efficient models. Over their lifetime, they can save more in running costs than any extra upfront price.
Look at expected annual kWh usage when comparing products, not just the sticker price.
Smarter cooking and laundry
Small behavioural changes in the kitchen and utility room can also reduce bills:
- • Use lids on pans and match ring size to pan size
- • Batch-cook and reheat in the microwave where possible
- • Air-dry clothes where practical instead of using the tumble dryer
6. Understand and reduce your home energy usage
Knowing exactly where your money is going is the foundation of cutting your home energy bills. When you understand your usage, you can target the areas with the biggest payoff.
Review your energy bills regularly
Set aside a few minutes each month to check your gas and electricity bills or online account. Look for:
- • Changes in usage compared to last month or last year
- • Estimated vs actual readings
- • Standing charges and unit rates
If something looks wrong, provide meter readings or contact your supplier for clarification.
Use simple energy monitoring techniques
You do not always need special equipment to understand your consumption. You can:
- • Turn an appliance off and on while watching your smart meter display
- • Keep a simple log of your daily meter readings during cold snaps
- • Note which rooms feel coldest — often where insulation or draught-proofing will help most
Over time, this builds a clear picture of where savings are possible.
7. UK grants, schemes and financial help
Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for help with energy bills or funding towards home energy efficiency improvements. Availability and criteria can change, so always check the latest information from official UK sources.
Support with energy bills
Some of the main types of support that may be available include:
- • Discounts or rebates for eligible low-income or vulnerable households
- • Help for pensioners and people receiving certain benefits
- • Supplier-run hardship funds or repayment plans if you are struggling
Check the UK Government and your local council websites for up-to-date schemes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Funding for insulation and low-carbon upgrades
There are also schemes that can help households improve insulation or switch to more efficient heating:
- • Grants and top-up funding for eligible households to install measures such as cavity wall insulation, loft insulation or heat pumps
- • Local schemes targeted at specific areas or property types
Because programmes change over time, it is important to check current eligibility and application routes on official channels before starting work.
Find Out How Much You Could Save on Home Energy
Every home is different. Get a personalised view of the best ways to cut your UK home energy bills — from quick fixes to long-term improvements.
8. Your step-by-step action plan to cut home energy bills
To make this practical, here is a simple checklist you can use over the next few weeks to lower your UK home energy bills:
- Lower your thermostat by 1–2°C and set clear heating schedules.
- Fit draught excluders and close doors to keep heat where you need it.
- Swap the most-used bulbs for LED versions.
- Use your smart meter or meter readings to track daily usage.
- Check whether you are on an expensive standard variable tariff.
- Top up loft insulation if it is below the recommended depth.
- Bleed radiators and ensure your boiler is serviced and set correctly.
- Plan for bigger upgrades such as wall insulation, new controls or a more efficient heating system when budgets allow.
Even completing the first few steps can bring your bills down, improve comfort and give you more control over your home energy use.
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