Getting to grips with your gas & electricity
With thousands of students getting ready to start a new life either in their first year of university or moving out of halls into rented accommodation, uSwitch.com has produced some great tips to help students save not just money on their gas and electricity bills, but also reduce their carbon emissions.
Gas and electricity bills may have been seen as a low priority by students in the past, but with the average annual household bill standing at a mammoth £913 , students should ensure they’re always on the cheapest deal available. Switching to the cheapest available plan could save students up to £200 on their bills .
Compare and switch your gas and electricity
If you’re renting…
Before you move in check with the landlord if the gas and electricity bills are included in your rent or if you need to put the bills in your name and pay them.
If you’re responsible for bills, ask who the current suppliers are and if the landlord would object to you comparing and switching to a cheaper plan.
Take meter readings when you move in. Give this to the suppliers and let them know that you’re a new tenant – you don’t want to pay the previous tenant’s bill.
Paying by Direct Debit will not only reduce your bills, but will help you avoid late payment charges incurred by forgetting to pay a bill.
Pre-payment meters are expensive – costing around £128 more than paying by Direct Debit - but if there’s already one fitted in your rented home you may not have much choice. Ask your landlord if you could switch back to a standard meter, but they may say no! Make sure you always keep it topped up, find out the opening times of local shops where you can buy ‘top-ups’ and keep a torch and some candles handy, just in case you ever do run out.