It's all part of their efficiency obligations to people in certain groups. The full Free Insulation & Boilers guide has more, but below's a taster of what you can get and what it'll save you.
Boiler replacement or repair. Heating accounts for around 60% of what you spend in a year on energy bills. The more efficient your boiler, the more heat it produces from each gas unit.
Depending on your boiler's age, a shiny new efficient one could save you up to £320/year. New boilers typically cost £2,300 – a fabulous freebie.
Cavity wall insulation. Most homes built since 1920 have a gap between internal and external walls. Filling the cavity with insulating mineral wool and foam means cold air's kept out, and warm air stays in. It can save an average three-bedroom home up to £150/year. We've heard of certain cases where damp has formed after having cavity wall insulation installed, so make sure it's appropriate for your home.
Loft insulation. Up to a quarter of your home's heat escapes via the roof, but you can solve this by laying mineral wool under the rafters, saving up to £130/year.
Got electricity only? You can still save
If you don't have a gas supply, don't think the rules are different. If you only have electricity you can still save serious cash using the comparisons. Use Cheap Energy Club or the other comparison sites listed above to compare electricity prices.
How to save if you're on a key/card meter
While new regulatory caps on how much prepay customers can be charged mean prices are generally lower, those on key or card meters are still pretty hard done to, certainly compared to those on billed meters. If possible, switch to one of these. You may have to pay, but the savings are usually worth it.
Often they won't let you though, due to credit score or income difficulties. For full info on how to ditch a prepayment meter for a billed meter, or if you can't, how to save on prepay, see the full Cheap Prepaid Gas & Elec guide.
Want green energy? Most can still save – though not as much
If you want to do your bit for the environment, there are plenty of 'green' tariffs available. You'll sometimes pay a premium on the very cheapest fixes for green energy, but you can still save £100s/year over big six standard rates.
These tariffs come in 'different shades of green'. Some suppliers promise to match your usage with energy generated from renewable sources – such as solar, wind or hydroelectric – while others will put money into renewable energy developments to boost the amount of green energy in the UK's national network.
Typically, it's only the electricity that's fully renewable. A few suppliers have started to offer 100% renewable gas, but it's rare.
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