Energy experts are advising households to take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of anticipated increases in gas and electricity costs this year. Ofgem’s current energy price cap stands at £1,641 annually for a typical household paying by direct debit, but forecasts from Cornwall Insight suggest it could rise to approximately £1,850 in July.

Richard Neudegg, director of regulation at Uswitch.com, highlighted that several fixed tariffs currently offer rates lower than the expected new cap, with some savings exceeding £200. For instance, Ecotricity’s EcoFixed tariff charges about £1,648 per year, while E.ON Next’s similar offering stands at around £1,693. These plans, however, include early exit fees—£75 per fuel for Ecotricity and £50 per fuel for E.ON Next. Neudegg emphasized that locking into a fixed tariff now may protect consumers from the July price hike and additional increases projected for the autumn and winter months. He cautioned that households remaining on their supplier’s standard variable tariff risk facing significantly higher bills.

Beyond tariff choices, experts recommend that households explore available financial assistance and energy grants. Utility Bidder pointed out that some suppliers provide support payments ranging from £150 up to more than £300 for eligible consumers.

In addition to financial strategies, small behavioral changes can help reduce energy consumption. Transitioning boilers to summer mode, which prevents unnecessary central heating activation, could save about £20 monthly. The Energy Saving Trust noted that switching off appliances at the plug instead of leaving them on standby may reduce bills by around £45 annually. Similarly, washing clothes at 30 degrees Celsius and minimizing unnecessary laundry loads can cut costs by approximately £27 per year, while line drying clothes instead of using tumble dryers may save another £50.

Households are also advised to ensure refrigerators and freezers are not set to unnecessarily low temperatures. Gordon Wallis, an energy expert at Your NRG, recommended cutting shower times in half, which can save about £70 per year, and only boiling the water needed in kettles could reduce costs by up to £30. He stressed the growing importance of smart meters as suppliers adopt time-of-use pricing, noting even small shifts like running washing machines overnight can contribute to savings over time.

Angus Struthers, managing director at BOXT, added that inefficiencies related to boilers and heating controls frequently lead to energy waste. He suggested simple maintenance tasks such as servicing boilers, adjusting thermostat settings, bleeding radiators, and improving control on a room-by-room basis to help lower energy consumption.

Together, these measures provide both immediate and longer-term opportunities for households to manage rising energy costs amid a challenging market environment.