Here are some ways to save money on your utility bills
Here’s some utility deals and offers available at the moment.
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Energy deals
Last chance to get Winter Fuel Payment
If you’re of State Pension age and receive Pension Credit or another means-tested benefit, you could be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment this year. This is £200 or £300 given to you by the Government to help with your energy bills.
If you’ve not already applied for Pension Credit, you’ve got until 21 December to do it to ensure you get the 2024/25 Winter Fuel Payment.
Free and discounted electricity on Christmas Day
Several energy suppliers are offering free or discounted electricity on Christmas Day this year, meaning you can snuggle under a heated blanket, roast your Turkey and watch the King’s speech guilt-free.
Here are the suppliers and what you can get.
| Supplier | Deal | Details |
| E.ON Next | Free energy on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, including standing charges | Must be on Next Reward Days 12-month fixed tariff and have a smart meter |
| EDF | Free electricity on Christmas Day | Must be signed up for the Sunday Saver Challenge and have a smart meter and you’ll get 8 hours of free electricity on 25 December. |
| British Gas | Half-price electricity between 11am and 4pm on Christmas Day and Boxing Day | Must be signed up for PeakSave Sundays and have a smart meter. Sign up before 15 December. |
Octopus Energy: free electric blanket
Some Octopus Energy customers can get a free electric blanket this winter. The energy company is giving away 20,000 electric blankets to its most vulnerable customers, prioritising those who are medically vulnerable, elderly or living alone.
To get it, Octopus asks you a series of questions that help you determine the best support for you.
You can apply for help with your energy bills and find out more about the scheme on the firm’s Octo Assist platform.
E.on Next Pledge tariff: 3% below the price cap
Both new and existing customers can get this new energy fix from E.on. Rather than having set prices, it tracks 3% below the energy price cap for 12 months. This works out at about £50 per year for the average household – what constitutes an average household is explained further here.
Further falls (and rises) to the price cap will alter your bill proportionately, however, you’ll be set below it for a full year. If, in this period, energy rates become more competitive between energy companies, which could lead to energy bills falling well below the price cap, you’d lose out.
You’ve got to agree to have a smart meter and early exit fees will apply if you choose to leave early.
Octopus Energy: Octoplus rewards
Octopus Energy has launched a new rewards program, which Octopus Energy customers can sign up to.
You can get free energy with Free Energy Sessions, and get paid to save energy for certain sessions. These are given to you as “Octopoints”.
You need to have your electricity supplied by Octopus, have an electricity smart meter and pay by Direct Debit to be able to use Octoplus rewards.
Octopus says that you’ll soon be able to use your points to redeem rewards. So far, we’ve seen that you can get a free hot drink at Greggs every week and two Odeon tickets for £10. You can also exchange your points for account credit.
EDF Energy tariff: 6.5% lower than the April price cap (ended)
EDF Energy has launched a new energy fix that comes to around £1,581 per year for the “average household“, which is 6.5% less than the April price cap, which is £1,690 from 1 April 2024.
If you’d prefer to wait and see if cheaper fixed tariffs become available or want to see your price change every three months in line with the price cap, then this one’s not for you.
There’s an early exit fee of £100 and you need to be willing to get a smart meter.
Uswitch Utrack: £10 free and earn money for saving energy (ended)
Uswitch has launched a new scheme called Utrack Money Back.
It lets you earn money when you reduce your electricity usage at specific times. If you have an electricity meter then you can sign up and earn around £3 for every kilowatt hour of electricity you reduce your usage by. Plus, you’ll reduce your bill by saving on your electricity usage.
You can get a £10 bonus when you sign up and connect your smart meter to the Utrack app. The scheme is running until the end of March.
Water deals
Save Water Save Money: free devices to save water
Save Water Save Money gives out free devices to help you save water in your home. Not everyone will be eligible, as it depends on whether your water company participates, but it’s worth entering your postcode to find out. I tried a few in Surrey, Sussex and London that didn’t qualify, however, Andy found that his water company in the North participates.
You could also get discounted water butts, plus you can purchase the devices in the shop, which include tap aerators, toilet leak detection kits and even shower heads.