Every year, the UK goes through a cycle of unpredictable, and mostly miserable weather. We know that eventually the frost and ice are going to kick in, but, we never quite register and inflict that to the way that we live our lives. This can be anything from going out for a day without wearing a coat or not having an umbrella with you, to not looking into your gas and electricity bills to see how much the winter months might cost you in your home. The price of gas and electricity is always changing, the top companies constantly compete for your custom. However, almost half of the home owners in Britain have never switched their energy supplier, which means that they might not be getting the best deal.

The cost of energy will always change, and for the past six months it has been on the rise. For those who are comparing companies, there are a few more ways of keeping your bills that little bit lower.

When you are looking at companies, you might want to see whether you can avoid using the ‘Big Six’. These are the biggest energy firms, but, smaller energy firms have emerged in the last year offering much cheaper prices. For this reason, the larger companies have had no option to but to cut their prices. Although, they still might not beat the smaller companies.

Opting to switch to a smaller company might also improve the service received. For the majority of people, a big corporate company will mean waiting for hours on the phone when you have a problem, and spending the majority of your time longing to speak to a human being rather than a recorded robot. This may not be true of all companies, but with smaller companies, you have a higher chance of being able to be put through to the relevant department a lot quicker.

On the other hand, with technology usage rapidly growing, people do tend to prefer to be able to handle everything online without having to go through the hassle of speaking to someone. Working a 9-5 job, and needing to call a company which also works 9-5 isn’t the easiest of matters to convene. For this reason, sitting on the sofa and being able to easily sort things out remotely appeals to a lot more people.

Considering this, switching suppliers is now incredibly simple for people to do. Simple details like your postcode, current supplier and your energy usage will be enough for you to see the deals available, and to also go ahead and switch. You should check you current contract, as there may be a cancellation fee. Although, companies tend to void this up to 49 days before your contract ends.

Look to see whether you can opt for a direct debit payment, as not only do these spread your monthly costs, it allows you to budget your own financials a lot easier. However, you must keep on top of reading the meter, as you may be using less energy than you think, meaning your account is in credit.

Preparing your home for winter can also help save on your energy bills. Effective insulation and double glazed windows from Cherwell Windows are the most effective methods of keeping the heat in your home. Keeping doors and windows closed, removing any draughts and wrapping up in a few extra layers might be able to help refrain you from turning the thermostat up a couple of degrees.