Check out deals as stingy energy firms move fast to bring in price hikes for consumers

THE nights are closing in, leaves are starting to fall and the sun is rising later every day. Autumn has arrived and that also means higher energy bills to heat homes, light them and power appliances.

The average home spends around €2,000 a year on energy, on the likes of home-heating oil, electricity and gas. That is a big chunk of the running cost of a home.

The fear now is that rises in cost of crude oil, with supply impacted by the tragic events in the US from the havoc wrought by tropical storm Harvey, and higher prices of wholesale gas and electricity will prompt suppliers to hit consumers. If that is to happen it will be a reversal of the trend up to now. Wholesale prices had been falling for two years. Consumers have benefited but not to any great extent, as stingy energy suppliers have only passed on marginal cuts to householders.

Watch now while they respond much more quickly to pass on any higher costs they face. Within days of Hurricane Harvey impacting refinery capacity in the US petrol and diesel retailers pushed up prices at the pumps.

Crude oil prices are expected to rise as long as refining capacity remains impacted. All this means consumers would be well advised to prepare for the worst.

If you heat your home with oil that means getting a tank fill now, rather than waiting for prices to rise. If prices do not rise then well and good. If they do increase, you are quids in.

And it is worth seeking out the best deal. The difference in the cost of a full tank can be as high as €60 between the various suppliers.

Electricity prices are due to rise, irrespective of what suppliers do.

This is because the energy regulator has approved a huge increase in the levy on domestic electricity bills. It has approved a 30pc increase in the levy from October. This will add €25 to the annual cost, once Vat is added.

The so-called public service obligation (PSO) levy goes from €80 a year on electricity bills to almost €105, once Vat is added.

Those worried about rising electricity and gas bills would be wise to take some time over the coming weeks to review the deals out there and switch to one that will save them money.

There is plenty of competition, with US/ Canadian group Just Energy taking to 10 the number of energy suppliers in the market here. Charlie Weston is the co-author with Karl Deeter of This Book Is Worth €25,000, published by Gill and available for €12.99 from major bookshops. Sunday Independent readers can order the book with free post and packaging. Call 01-5009570 within Ireland and quote INDG17.