Simple ways to reduce those bills

• Turn down the thermostat. Lowering the dial by just one degree could reduce bills by £80-85 per year. Adjusting central heating timers to switch off at night and during the day will also minimise fuel consumption.

• For rooms that stand empty throughout the day, turn the radiator down to the lowest setting without turning it off completely. Fitting reflective foil behind radiators on external walls will also help reduce the rate of heat loss in these rooms.

• Review appliances that aren’t always in use and turn them off if they’re on standby. This could save £55 a year.

• Lowering the temperature of washing machines is an eco-friendly way to save money. Even a 20C wash can do the trick in some cases, particularly when using liquid detergent rather than powder. Dry clothes on a rack instead of in a tumble dryer – for those who do use a dryer, clean the filter to improve energy efficiency.

• Up to a third of heat disappears through the roof, so add insulation if you can. Installing loft insulation could save you up to £215 per year. Loft insulation should last for around 40 years and pay for itself many times over. Some energy suppliers offer help with the costs.

• Draught-proof your home. In some cases, this is as simple as buying a draught-excluding cushion and putting it in front of your door but also tackle draughty windows, doors, chimneys, floorboards, skirting boards and loft hatches.

• Choosing energy-efficient household appliances could save consumers over £300 a year, when their old white goods need replacing.

• Swapping old-style bulbs with energy-saving LEDS saves around £7 per year, which may seem like a small saving but as they are longer lasting a single bulb could eventually cut around £180 from your bills.

• Some households may also be eligible for grants that can help reduce the energy bills burden. The Warm Home Discount is worth £140 a year and available mainly to pensioners and those who get certain benefits, while the Winter Fuel Payment is worth £100-£300, for those born before September 1955. From this month, the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme will close, to be replaced with a new boiler upgrade scheme offering up to £5,000 if you replace your current gas or oil heating with a low-carbon alternative.