Latest news with #EliseMelville
Scottish Sun
29-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
The rule that tells you whether you need to apply for an energy refund of up to £214 from your supplier
Millions could be owed money from their energy provider. CASH IN The rule that tells you whether you need to apply for an energy refund of up to £214 from your supplier Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AS Brits switch off their heating for the summer, energy bills for many households will likely be costing less. Bills will be driven down further from next week as the price cap is set to drop to £1,720 on July 1, marking a £129 boost for households that use a typical amount of energy. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Energy bills will be going down for many households from next week Credit: Alamy While it comes as good news for many families, it also means you could be overpaying your bill and ending up in credit. You're entitled to request a refund of your credit from your energy supplier, and it can be tempting to do so as soon as your account goes into positive. But according to energy experts, there's a simple rule you should follow to know exactly when you need to ask for your money back. 'As a general rule, households should keep about two months' worth of payments in energy credit before they think about asking for a refund from their supplier," USwitch energy expert Elise Melville says. 'For a household on a standard tariff using an average amount of energy this would be about £286 of credit – or a sixth of the annual price cap of £1,720 from July.' Citizens Advice also urges energy customers on its website to leave money on their account during summer and autumn to cover higher energy costs in the winter months. USwitch figures from March revealed that more than 15 million households were in credit to their energy supplier coming into the summer. Some households were sitting on more than £500 in energy credit, meaning they could get back £214 in cash - while still having two months' worth of energy payments left in their account - if they followed the rule. USwitch told The Sun the amount of people in excess credit is likely to be much higher now than it was in spring, and urged households to think about asking for a refund. 'If you have a significant amount of credit it's worth considering if you would rather use it for something else. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now "If you are in credit by more than two months' worth of payments, it may be worth asking your supplier for some of the excess to be refunded," Melville added. How to request a credit refund Before asking for a refunds, you should do is make sure your supplier has the most up-to-date meter reading. This will show you if you're being charged the right monthly amount to begin with. Every energy supplier has its own process for customers getting a refund, so you should check your supplier's website to find out how you can apply. If you're a British Gas customer, for example, you can request a refund through your online account. As long as you've been billed in the last 14 days and you're not switching providers, your credit balance will be refunded to your bank account within 10 working days. OVO Energy customers can request a refund if their credit is at least £5 higher than one month's direct debit. After submitting a meter reading to your online account, customers should head to the payments page and click apply for a refund. Why are energy bills going down? Energy regulator Ofgem has announced that prices for households on standard variable tariffs will go down by 7% from July 1. The energy price cap change will see average annual bills for households that use a typical amount of energy drop from £1,849 to £1,720 - a reduction of £129. In its announcement, Ofgem said: "Between 1 July and 30 September 2025, the energy price cap is set at £1,720 per year for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit. "This is a decrease of 7% compared to the cap set between 1 April to 30 June 2025 (£1,849). 'The price cap also makes sure that prices for people on a standard variable tariff (default tariff) are fair and that they reflect the cost of energy." Customers who pay for electricity and gas by either Direct Debit, prepayment meter, standard credit or Economy 7 meter will be covered by the price cap change. The changes are set to come in from 0.01am on Tuesday, July 1. If you're on a fixed deal with your energy supplier, you won't be affected by the price cap change. How do energy direct debits work? THERE are two main types of energy direct debits - fixed and variable. Most energy customers pay a fixed direct debit, which means you pay a fixed amount every month. Your energy company will work out the cost of your energy for the year ahead and divide this into equal payments. Most energy firms will use the average amount of gas and electricity used in previous years to calculate your monthly instalments. With a fixed direct debit you can spread the cost of your energy use without any surprises. If your energy supplier has upped your fixed direct debit amount even though your usage is down, you can request that the fixed monthly charge is brought down - we've explained how to challenge your bill below. Those on fixed direct debits are more likely to build up credit during the warmer summer months and if you're in credit but your direct debit has risen substantially this winter it's worth challenging it. Some energy companies give customers the option to pay with a variable direct debit. With a variable direct debit, you can choose to pay a varying amount every month or every quarter, depending on the energy you use. You'll pay for the energy you use, this means you'll likely pay more in the winter and less in the summer. Some experts argue that this type of direct debit method makes it harder for households to budget in the colder months but if you only want to pay for what you use each month then a variable direct debit may be a safe bet. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The rule that tells you whether you need to apply for an energy refund of up to £214 from your supplier
AS Brits switch off their heating for the summer, energy bills for many households will likely be costing less. Bills will be driven down further from next week as the price cap is set to drop to £1,720 on July 1, marking a £129 boost for households that use a typical amount of energy. 1 While it comes as good news for many families, it also means you could be overpaying your bill and ending up in credit. You're entitled to request a refund of your credit from your energy supplier, and it can be tempting to do so as soon as your account goes into positive. But according to energy experts, there's a simple rule you should follow to know exactly when you need to ask for your money back. 'As a general rule, households should keep about two months' worth of payments in energy credit before they think about asking for a refund from their supplier," USwitch energy expert Elise Melville says. 'For a household on a standard tariff using an average amount of energy this would be about £286 of credit – or a sixth of the annual price cap of £1,720 from July.' Citizens Advice also urges energy customers on its website to leave money on their account during summer and autumn to cover higher energy costs in the winter months. USwitch figures from March revealed that more than 15 million households were in credit to their energy supplier coming into the summer. Some households were sitting on more than £500 in energy credit, meaning they could get back £214 in cash - while still having two months' worth of energy payments left in their account - if they followed the rule. USwitch told The Sun the amount of people in excess credit is likely to be much higher now than it was in spring, and urged households to think about asking for a refund. 'If you have a significant amount of credit it's worth considering if you would rather use it for something else. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now "If you are in credit by more than two months' worth of payments, it may be worth asking your supplier for some of the excess to be refunded," Melville added. How to request a credit refund Before asking for a refunds, you should do is make sure your supplier has the most up-to-date meter reading. This will show you if you're being charged the right monthly amount to begin with. Every energy supplier has its own process for customers getting a refund, so you should check your supplier's website to find out how you can apply. If you're a British Gas customer, for example, you can request a refund through your online account. As long as you've been billed in the last 14 days and you're not switching providers, your credit balance will be refunded to your bank account within 10 working days. OVO Energy customers can request a refund if their credit is at least £5 higher than one month's direct debit. After submitting a meter reading to your online account, customers should head to the payments page and click apply for a refund. Why are energy bills going down? Energy regulator Ofgem has announced that prices for households on standard variable tariffs will go down by 7% from July 1. The energy price cap change will see average annual bills for households that use a typical amount of energy drop from £1,849 to £1,720 - a reduction of £129. In its announcement, Ofgem said: "Between 1 July and 30 September 2025, the energy price cap is set at £1,720 per year for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit. "This is a decrease of 7% compared to the cap set between 1 April to 30 June 2025 (£1,849). 'The price cap also makes sure that prices for people on a standard variable tariff (default tariff) are fair and that they reflect the cost of energy." Customers who pay for electricity and gas by either Direct Debit, prepayment meter, standard credit or Economy 7 meter will be covered by the price cap change. The changes are set to come in from 0.01am on Tuesday, July 1. If you're on a fixed deal with your energy supplier, you won't be affected by the price cap change. How do energy direct debits work? THERE are two main types of energy direct debits - fixed and variable. Most energy customers pay a fixed direct debit, which means you pay a fixed amount every month. Your energy company will work out the cost of your energy for the year ahead and divide this into equal payments. Most energy firms will use the average amount of gas and electricity used in previous years to calculate your monthly instalments. With a fixed direct debit you can spread the cost of your energy use without any surprises. If your energy supplier has upped your fixed direct debit amount even though your usage is down, you can request that the fixed monthly charge is brought down - we've explained how to challenge your bill below. Those on fixed direct debits are more likely to build up credit during the warmer summer months and if you're in credit but your direct debit has risen substantially this winter it's worth challenging it. Some energy companies give customers the option to pay with a variable direct debit. With a variable direct debit, you can choose to pay a varying amount every month or every quarter, depending on the energy you use. You'll pay for the energy you use, this means you'll likely pay more in the winter and less in the summer. Some experts argue that this type of direct debit method makes it harder for households to budget in the colder months but if you only want to pay for what you use each month then a variable direct debit may be a safe bet.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Hours left to secure fixed energy deal that'll slash your bills by £300 a year
A MAJOR energy supplier if offering customers the chance to fix and lower their bills for the next 12 months, but time is running out. Households have only a few hours left to save up to £300 on their annual energy costs before the deal expires at midnight tonight. The EDF Simply Fixed May26 is priced at £1,549 a year - £300 below Ofgem 's current price cap and £134 cheaper than Cornwall Insight's July price cap forecast. This deal could benefit millions, as over 22million households on standard variable tariffs remain directly impacted by the price cap which changes every three months. Currently, the price cap sets annual energy costs at around £1,849. Analysts at Cornwall Insight predict this will drop by nearly 9% to £1,683 in July. However, many households may still pay more than Ofgem's headline figure. This is because the price cap doesn't cap total bills but limits the maximum cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of gas and electricity, along with daily standing charges. By choosing a fixed deal, customers can lock in consistent rates for a set period, potentially avoiding fluctuations in energy prices. Of course, opting for a fixed energy deal carries the risk that, if energy prices drop further, you might end up paying more than you would on a variable tariff. However, analysts have long said that households should not anticipate any significant drops in prices this year. Elise Melville, energy expert at said: "While the energy price cap is predicted to fall to £1,683 in July, the top fifteen fixed tariffs currently available are already priced lower than this. What is the energy price cap? "Locking in cheaper rates now can offer valuable protection against any future price fluctuations. "With some of the best deals offering fixes of 12 months or longer, it's a great time to run a comparison to see what you could save." If you're interested in signing up for the EDF's fixed tariff, you can do so by visiting It's worth noting that while EDF's offer is the most affordable among the "Big Six" suppliers, a smaller provider is offering an even cheaper fixed-rate deal. Outfox the Market's Fix'd Dual May25 12M v4.0 tariff, costs a typical household £1,530 a year. This means it is £319 cheaper than Ofgem's April price cap and £153 a cheaper than the predicted cap for July. It comes with a £50 exit fee per fuel or £100 if you lock in with a dual fuel tariff. How can I find the cheapest fixed deals? To find the best fixed energy deals, start by visiting price comparison websites, which aggregate various offers from different energy suppliers. The best sites include and MoneySavingExpert's Cheap Energy Club. Enter your postcode and current energy usage details to receive a list of available deals tailored to your needs - it'll take you less than five minutes. You'll then be able to compare the rates, contract lengths, and any additional features or benefits offered by each deal. Next, visit the websites of individual energy suppliers to check if they have exclusive deals that are not listed on comparison sites. Sometimes, suppliers offer special promotions or discounts directly to customers. Compare these offers with those on the comparison websites to ensure you get the best possible rate. Finally, consider customer service reviews and the overall reputation of the suppliers. Once you have identified the best deal, follow the instructions to switch your energy provider. What energy bill help is available? There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by. If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter. This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period. If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal. Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills. But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances. For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund. EDF, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too. Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR). The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill. Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling. Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
Scottish Sun
11-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Hours left to secure fixed energy deal that'll slash your bills by £300 a year
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR energy supplier if offering customers the chance to fix and lower their bills for the next 12 months, but time is running out. Households have only a few hours left to save up to £300 on their annual energy costs before the deal expires at midnight tonight. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 By choosing a fixed deal, customers can lock in consistent rates for a set period, potentially avoiding fluctuations in energy prices Credit: AFP The EDF Simply Fixed May26 is priced at £1,549 a year - £300 below Ofgem's current price cap and £134 cheaper than Cornwall Insight's July price cap forecast. This deal could benefit millions, as over 22million households on standard variable tariffs remain directly impacted by the price cap which changes every three months. Currently, the price cap sets annual energy costs at around £1,849. Analysts at Cornwall Insight predict this will drop by nearly 9% to £1,683 in July. However, many households may still pay more than Ofgem's headline figure. This is because the price cap doesn't cap total bills but limits the maximum cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of gas and electricity, along with daily standing charges. By choosing a fixed deal, customers can lock in consistent rates for a set period, potentially avoiding fluctuations in energy prices. Of course, opting for a fixed energy deal carries the risk that, if energy prices drop further, you might end up paying more than you would on a variable tariff. However, analysts have long said that households should not anticipate any significant drops in prices this year. Elise Melville, energy expert at said: "While the energy price cap is predicted to fall to £1,683 in July, the top fifteen fixed tariffs currently available are already priced lower than this. What is the energy price cap? "Locking in cheaper rates now can offer valuable protection against any future price fluctuations. "With some of the best deals offering fixes of 12 months or longer, it's a great time to run a comparison to see what you could save." If you're interested in signing up for the EDF's fixed tariff, you can do so by visiting It's worth noting that while EDF's offer is the most affordable among the "Big Six" suppliers, a smaller provider is offering an even cheaper fixed-rate deal. Outfox the Market's Fix'd Dual May25 12M v4.0 tariff, costs a typical household £1,530 a year. This means it is £319 cheaper than Ofgem's April price cap and £153 a cheaper than the predicted cap for July. It comes with a £50 exit fee per fuel or £100 if you lock in with a dual fuel tariff. How can I find the cheapest fixed deals? To find the best fixed energy deals, start by visiting price comparison websites, which aggregate various offers from different energy suppliers. The best sites include and MoneySavingExpert's Cheap Energy Club. Enter your postcode and current energy usage details to receive a list of available deals tailored to your needs - it'll take you less than five minutes. You'll then be able to compare the rates, contract lengths, and any additional features or benefits offered by each deal. Next, visit the websites of individual energy suppliers to check if they have exclusive deals that are not listed on comparison sites. Sometimes, suppliers offer special promotions or discounts directly to customers. Compare these offers with those on the comparison websites to ensure you get the best possible rate. Finally, consider customer service reviews and the overall reputation of the suppliers. Once you have identified the best deal, follow the instructions to switch your energy provider.
The Sun
02-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
The nightmare hot weather appliances that you MUST switch off to save on energy bills
Daniel Fessahaye Published: Invalid Date, JUST because the heating's off doesn't mean your energy bills are taking a break – in fact, some warm weather gadgets could be driving them up. With hotter temperatures sweeping the UK, many households might assume costs will drop. But the truth is, some appliances we rely on in the heat could be draining more power than you realise. These " vampire appliances" drain your electricity when they're left on for long periods of time. Of course, how much you'll actually pay depends on how much you use the appliance and what make and model you have. All costs are calculated using the current price cap rates. Between 1 April and 30 June 2025, the energy price cap is set at £1,849 per year for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit. From fans that can keep you cool at night and fridge-freezers to smart speakers and garden lights, here are the summer culprits that could be costing you a small fortune... Desktop fan A desktop fan might be a must on a warm night, but it's not completely free to run. According to Uswitch, using a 35-watt fan for around 9 hours a day over a week will cost around 60p. The exact costs will depend on your energy tariff and the device you have. But you can use this equation to work it out: Cost = power (kilowatt) × time (hour) × cost of 1 kWh (pence). What is the energy price cap? Elise Melville, energy expert at said: 'Leaving a fan running overnight for 12 hours to keep cool will only set you back 11p – as desktop fans don't use much energy. 'You can cut the cost of running a fan by making sure you are using it as efficiently as possible. 'Some models come with an 'eco' setting, which means they lose less power so cost less to run. 'You should also make sure the fan is free of obstructions and not dusty, as this could cause the fan to work harder than it needs to. 'Placing a bowl of ice cubes in front of an electric fan will lower the temperature of the air being blown around the room. 'This might cool you down faster, so you don't need to keep the fan on for as long.' More ways to save on energy bills this summer Switching off appliances around your home is one of the easiest ways to cut energy costs. Senior Consumer reporter Olivia Marshall explains how. Check if you still need your dehumidifier Dehumidifiers can help speed up your drying time, while also reducing the amount of moisture and condensation created by drying clothes indoors. However, you may not need it as often during the summer months when you can open the windows to ventilate your home instead. You could consider changing the settings so it runs for less time, or turn it off completely if you can let the air in through your windows. Take your lamps off a timer During the dark winter months, lots of households chose to put their lights on a timer for security reasons. As the days get longer, it's worth checking these settings to see if your lights are coming on earlier than they need to. Turn off any plug-in heaters Electric heaters can be a useful way of making a room a little warmer in the winter. Some of them also come with timers you can set when they come on. If your gadget does, then it's time to give the settings a tweak. Electric shower When temperatures soar, many of us find ourselves hopping in the shower more often – but that can quickly drive up your bills. An electric shower uses a lot of power. A 10-minute rinse each day for a week can cost around £3.41. To keep costs down, try to limit showers to four minutes, or switch to a cold shower now and then – especially in a heatwave. You could also invest in an eco-shower head to cut water usage, which helps reduce both your energy and water bills if you're on a meter. Fridge freezer Your fridge freezer is always on – and always using energy. A typical model uses around 245.5kWh a year, which works out at £66.36 under the current energy price cap. In summer, it's likely working even harder to stay cool – especially if the room temperature rises or if the door is opened more often. Keep it well stocked but not overloaded, don't leave the door open longer than needed, and defrost regularly to help it run more efficiently. Outdoor lighting Enjoying your garden into the evening is part of the summer fun, but outdoor lights can sneakily bump up your bills. If you've got four 60W lights on for an hour each night, that adds up to 45p a week. Consider swapping to solar-powered lights, which soak up the sun's energy during the day and don't cost a penny to run. You'll save money – and they're better for the environment too. How do I calculate my energy bill? BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill. To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type. The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/ standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year - irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity. You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill. Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately. Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type - this will give you your usage costs. You'll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage - this will then give you your annual costs. Divide this figure by 12, and you'll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1. Smart speaker You might not think twice about leaving your smart speaker plugged in – but even in standby mode, it uses energy. But smart speakers are some of the most expensive devices to leave on standby. Most smart speakers draw around 2 watts constantly when not in use. That might sound low, but over a year, that could add £4.74 to your energy bill. So if you're not using it, switch it off at the wall and unplug it when possible. .
