On average, £1.3bn is owed by households on energy bills, with customers in debt to their supplier by £206, according to the latest data from Uswitch cited by Boxt. Andy Kerr, founder and CEO at BOXT, gave advice on how people can negotiate their energy bills.
Andy said: “If you’re struggling to afford your energy bills, the first thing you should do is contact your energy supplier to discuss ways to pay them what you owe. Your energy supplier has to help you come to a solution, but ensure you negotiate a deal that works for you and your monthly budget.
“If you have asked to set up a payment plan, this will include what you owe plus an amount for your current use. Your supplier must take into account how much you can afford to pay and how much energy you’ll use in future, so make sure you have your monthly income and outgoings on hand, and also send regular meter readings and or get a smart meter installed so your bill is always based on accurate usage rather than an estimate. This means you’re less likely to be overpaying and also don’t risk underpaying then getting a big catch-up bill further down the line.”
He added: “If your boiler is older than ten years, it may be time to buy a new one. All new and modern boilers have to be A-rated for efficiency. A more efficient boiler system will significantly reduce energy wastage, which will help to reduce heating bills.
“Older systems have to work harder to produce the same heat, and some won’t even be able to reach the levels of new boilers. This puts a bigger strain on the old system, causing issues and higher energy bills. By purchasing a new boiler, in the long run, you’ll save money and save energy, with research from the Energy Saving Trust showing that you could save up to £840 a year on energy bills with a new, more efficient boiler.”