Energy Saving Tips to cut fuel costs

With household energy bills on the rise, insurance broker Confused.com, is offering the following tips to help consumers to reduce their monthly payments for energy in their home:

Start switching your supplier
Around half of the households in this country have never switched gas and / or electrcity supplier, leaving some homes paying 30% more for their fuel than they should be.

It is possible to reduce that overspend straightaway simply by - there are more than 14,000 to chose from - which does not even always mean changing supplier. By switching to the best deal available, the average customer, who has never before switched energy suppliers or tariffs, can make a saving of £284.62, according to Confused.com.

Consider capping
The wholesale cost of energy is almost double what it was last year - Centrica's Interim Management Statement on 12 May 2008 admitted, "On average the month-ahead prices for gas and power were 92% and 100% respectively above those for the same period of the previous year. Against this backdrop all major energy suppliers increased residential energy tariffs during the first quarter of the year.

Further increases in gas and electricity prices are expected, which means that now could be the time to switch to a capped-price tariff. If utilities companies up their prices again - and rises of between 10% and 20% have not been uncommon - that mediocre capped rate from your energy supplier could suddenly be very reasonable. If you need some consistency in your monthly spending, consider capped rates.

Check your appliances
If you are looking to buy the latest plasma screen, or American- style freezer, take a moment to read the booklet that comes with it. Some household appliances guzzle up electricity so it is worth having a look around your home to see if there are appliances which might be significantly increasing your energy bills.

Check your meter regularly
Energy suppliers are only legally obligated to read your meter every two years, which means that your gas and electricity bills are based on what they think you might use up. Make sure that you check your meter on a regular basis and let your supplier know the reading. Their lines are often open 24-hours-a-day and they will amend your bill accordingly.

Don't inherit someone else's supplier
A classic mistake to make when you move into a new residence is to stay with the previous owner's supplier. Make sure that you read the meter as soon as you move in, and investigate the previous occupier's energy supplier.

Unless that supplier is offering the best deal, look to change to a better tariff, or even change supplier altogether. If you want to save money, dont be lazy - start to investigate whether switching makes sense.

Shop around
In order to really save money, you need to search the whole market and all of the available tariffs.