Help with fuel bills

With gas and electricity prices rising, many people are worried about energy bills also increasing.

Advice is available and it is worth checking to see if you qualify for a discount.

Energy saving tips

Avoid using the tumble dryer: line drying your clothes in warmer weather, or on racks inside the house, can save you £50 a year.
Reduce your time in the shower: keeping your shower time to just four minutes could save you £45 a year.
Using the shower instead of the bath: swapping one bath a week to a four-minute shower could save you £10 a year.
Switch appliances off standby mode: you can save around £45 a year by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode.
Top up your hot water cylinder insulation: if you have a loose 25mm jacket, why not top it up with a British Standard Jacket (80mm thick)? Doing this will help you save £40 a year.
Don’t overfill your kettle: avoid overfilling the kettle and you can save yourself £10 a year on your electric bill.
Wash your clothes less and colder: save £27 a year on your electricity bill by making small changes in how you use your washing machine:
- Wash your clothes on a 30°C cycle instead of higher temperatures.
- Reduce your washing machine use by one run per week for a year.
Reduce your dishwasher use: only run your dishwasher when it’s full so you don’t have to run it as often. Reducing your dishwasher use by one run per week for a year could save you £11 a year.
Turn off your lights: turn your lights off when you’re not using them or when you leave a room. This saves you around £8 a year.
Draught proof: draught proofing is when you block unwanted gaps such as around windows and doors. Draught proofing for your windows and doors can save you around £85 a year. Energy Saving Trust - Draft proofing

Tips are from Energy Saving Trust - Quick tips to save energy at home from the experts - based on a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house in England, July 2025.

Advice and information – Warm Homes Suffolk

Warm Homes Suffolk is an initiative set up by councils in Suffolk to help residents live in homes that cost less to heat, so they can reduce their energy usage and enjoy lower bills.

The initiative can provide expert advice and support to shrink your fuel bills, fit loft and wall insulation, add solar PV panels to roofs and install energy efficient air source heat pumps.

To see if you are eligible:

Visit Warm Homes Suffolk - Lendology.cic Application form
Call 03456 037 686

Warm Homes Healthy People

Suffolk Warm Homes Healthy People logo Suffolk’s Warm Homes Healthy People is a project designed to help vulnerable people and families make their homes cheaper to heat.
The project can provide the following for eligible residents in Suffolk:

grants for First Time Central Heating
can lend households electric heaters if their boiler or heater has stopped working
point households in the direction of any grant funding available for energy efficiency measures
arrange for an independent surveyor to visit homes and discuss energy efficiency improvements that could make a difference to heating bills
the project can also access grants to help pay for insulation and basic draught proofing

Call Warm Homes Healthy People on 03456 037 686 or email whhp@eastsuffolk.gov.uk

Pre-payment meter support

Residents in Suffolk can benefit from tailored support if they are struggling with bills on a pre-payment meter.
This project aims to work with individuals to better understand pressures on their finances and the impact this is having on their lives. The service can carry out a home visit, as well as providing advice over the phone and by email.

The following support is available:

Income maximisation (through grants and benefits)
Budgeting advice
Help understanding bills and heating systems
Support to reduce energy expenditure (by promoting social tariffs and support to switch suppliers)
Improving household energy efficiency (by installing insulation, draught proofing, heating systems and solar panels)
Facilitating switch away from prepayment meters if appropriate

This scheme is being administered by East Suffolk Council on behalf of all Suffolk councils. Pre-payment meter customers who would like support can contact prepay@eastsuffolk.gov.uk to find out more, or call Prepay West 07769 365796.
For more information please visit: Suffolk County Council - help for households.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Please visit the Domestic energy efficiency funding webpage for more information.