DWP's £150 Energy Support Is Just The Beginning - MORE Ways to Save

• Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, guides UK households on extra energy-saving strategies
• Discover underutilised grants and schemes to reduce energy bills
• Practical energy-saving hacks that could save up to £200 annually
• Counterintuitive tips and tools to maximise cost of living support

Amidst the backdrop of more than 3 million UK households receiving DWP letters detailing £150 Warm Home Discount energy bill support today, taking control of household energy expenses has never been more vital. With a critical focus on affordability and sustainability, Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, provides an in-depth exploration of other schemes available to low-income households and shares insightful tips to bring energy costs down further.

Get Free Insulation with the Home Upgrade Grant

"Apply for the Home Upgrade Grant, which delivers energy efficiency solutions like insulation and solar panels to qualifying households with incomes under £36,000. Other criteria apply. Reach out to your local council and check if you're eligible. If you are, it can be a huge financial win."

Energy Company Obligation (ECO)

"The Energy Company Obligation scheme essentially acts like an unsung hero for homes on means-tested benefits, giving you updates like free installations of electric storage heaters and insulation. Many are unaware these changes can be had at no cost, which can really help reduce energy bills."

Practical Energy-Saving Tips: Little Changes, Big Differences

"The smaller, often neglected measures, like sealing drafts and lowering your thermostat by just one degree, can carve out as much as £60 each year. It's a simple equation: less energy used means less money out of pocket."

• Use tights as draught excluders: Fill old tights with scrunched-up newspaper or fabric and place them along door gaps to stop cold air from coming in.
• Reflect heat with kitchen foil: Put kitchen foil behind radiators to bounce heat back into the room instead of losing it through walls.
• Wear thermal underlay clothing: M&S, Matalan, Primark, and NEXT sell affordable thermal underlay clothing. It's all about the layers.

Insulation and Heating

"Insulation is the ace up your sleeve for tackling big energy leaks. And schemes like Connected for Warmth are worth looking into. If your home is in council tax band A, B, C or D, you might be eligible for free loft or cavity wall insulation. Citizens advice as more information on it and how to apply."

Octopus Energy's Agile Octopus Tariff

"Take a look at Octopus Energy's Agile Octopus tariff. The price of electricity changes every 30 minutes, based on real-time wholesale costs. If you're able to use more energy during off-peak times, you could save money. For example, putting your washing machine on at night. Or charging your electric car. Sometimes, when there's excess renewable energy, the price even drops below zero, meaning you can get paid to use electricity! But that is rare. However, prices can also spike when demand is high, so this tariff works best if you can keep an eye on rates and adjust your usage throughout the day. I think I'll be able to save up to £200 a year using this."

Cold Weather Payments: Extra £25 When It's Freezing

"When temperatures plummet, you may be able to get £25. If you're eligible for Cold Weather Payments, for every 7 day period of very cold weather between 1st November - 31st March 2025 you may receive £25. This is sent to the same account as where benefits payments are received."

Smart Meters: A Step Towards Smarter Living

"If you don't have one yet get a smart meter. You can see exactly how much you've spent and stick within your budget."