Winter’s setting in and the weather’s getting colder – which can only mean one thing for many people’s energy bills.

As temperatures plummet, more and more people will bite the bullet and switch the heating on, or turn the thermostat up a notch. But while simply needing more heating in the colder months is enough to push energy bills up, it’s unfortunately not the only reason bills are soaring.

Ofgem – Britain’s independent energy regulator – recently put the energy price cap up, allowing energy companies to raise their tariffs for gas and electricity. This means consumers now have to pay more for the energy they use.

Combined with the government no longer providing an Energy Bills Support Scheme payment, means-testing pensioners for the Winter Fuel Payment, and the rising cost of living, many households are feeling the pinch more than ever.

While people who are billed for their energy monthly brace for higher bills each month, people with prepayment meters will find themselves having to top up with more credit, or top up more often. But while you have to be mindful of how much you’re topping up, there are some pros to having a prepayment meter, too.

How prepayment meters can help with winter budgeting

Paying as you go – because you’re in control of how much and how often you top your meter up with funds, you’re also more aware of how much energy you’re using. And you can always see how much credit is left on the meter, so you know when it’s time to top up.
Accessing emergency funds – prepayment meters are programmed with Emergency Credit and Friendly Credit for you to use if the credit on your meter is running low and/or you’re temporarily unable to get to the shops to top up in time, so you won’t lose your energy supply in the meantime. Both types of credit need to be repaid upon your next top-up.
Topping up remotely – smart prepayment meters are even more convenient than traditional prepayment meters. As well as allowing you to set budget and spending alerts, you don’t have to go out to a physical shop to top up as you can do so with your phone or online account, wherever you are.

Essential winter energy-saving tips for prepayment users

Top up before winter – even now, it’s not too late to build up the credit on your prepayment meter for a rainy (or snowy) day. But during the warmer months while you’re not using as much energy and therefore not spending as much, it’s a great idea to top up a little more than you need each time, so come winter you’ll have an extra build-up of credit to use.
Adjust your habits at home – small but consistent actions like turning down your thermostat by 1°C, switching off lights in rooms you’re not in and unplugging electronics by the mains when not in use can all help towards lowering your energy costs.
Get service bundle discounts – Utility Warehouse (UW) is the UK’s only genuine multiservice provider and offers their customers more money off their monthly bill if they take multiple services – including energy. UW currently offers energy, broadband, mobile, insurance, and a customer-exclusive exclusive Cashback Card.
Get a smart meter – UW also offersoffer their customers free upgrades to smart meters, including smart prepayment meters. While a smart meter itself doesn’t save you money by itself, it makes it easier for you to take steps to take even more control of your energy use.

Quick energy-saving hacks for every room

Block draughts – stop cold air from coming in through gaps in doors and windows.
Insulate the roof – heat rises, and is most at risk of escaping through the roof of your home.
De-ice your freezer – a build-up of ice makes your freezer’s motor work harder to maintain the correct temperature, using more energy to do so.
Don’t peek into the oven – opening the oven while it’s on lets heat escape, causing the oven to use extra energy to heat it back up again.
Replace old bulbs with LED bulbs – LED bulbs not only use significantly less energy than their incandescent and fluorescent counterparts, but they last for many years longer too.

You can also visit UW’s help page for more energy-saving hacks.

If you prefer an easier way to budget for your energy use instead of receiving bills for energy after you’ve used it – or the peace of mind of knowing that you’ll never accidentally forget to give a meter reading, pay a bill or get into debt – you might find switching to a prepayment meter useful.

Think paying for energy as you go might be for you? Read more about prepayment meters on UW’s page.