LSI's top five tips for keeping home utility bills as cheap as possible:

SWITCH SUPPLIER ON-LINE

Some people feel uncomfortable about dealing with their finances on-line. However, when it comes to fuel bills, those who are prepared to switch on-line and receive their bills by email always make the biggest savings. Don’t be put off by fear of the unknown as it’s usually only your bills that go on-line. You can still contact the supplier by phone for any queries you have, whether it’s about billing, gas leaks, power cuts or anything else.

PAY BY DIRECT DEBIT

A typical home could save between £50 and £200 a year simply by switching to direct debit. However, beware of paying too much or too little each month – ensure the direct debit accurately reflects your projected annual usage so you don't build up a surplus with the supplier or suddenly get a big increase to your direct debit because you’ve fallen behind.

SHOP AROUND – DON'T ACCEPT PRICE INCREASES FROM YOUR CURRENT SUPPLIER

You have the right to refuse price increases as long as you contact your supplier within 20 days of receiving notification of the rise. Tell your existing provider that you don’t want to accept the rise and wish to leave, either by email or in writing. You then have 15 days to switch to a new provider, and will stay on your existing tariff until the switch goes through, which typically takes 4-6 weeks.

STAY UP-TO-DATE

Make a habit of checking prices on-line regularly, every 3-6 months, to ensure that you are still getting a good deal.

SAVE ENERGY

We all know the importance of saving energy to ensure that energy bills stay as low as possible. Investing in double glazing and loft insulation can cut bills, along with simple things like turning down the thermostat on the central heating a couple of degrees; not leaving electrical equipment on stand-by, and a whole range of other measures. Higher prices are here to stay so we should all get used to adopting more efficient ways of using energy.