Experts are warning that up to a million households in the UK are facing ‘fuel poverty’ this winter after one of the country’s major energy suppliers announced price rises of £200 per year.  Scottish Power has announced that it will increase electricity prices by an average 10 per cent and gas prices by an average 19 per cent in August.

With the other ‘Big Six’ firms set to follow suit, most households in the UK are set to see rises in their energy prices this autumn. So, in order to avoid becoming one of those families plunged into ‘fuel poverty’, here are three tips to help reduce the impact of the price rises.

Shop around for a better gas and electric deal

The price rises come just months after energy companies raised gas prices by 5.6 per cent and electricity prices by 6.4 per cent. Scottish Power claims that wholesale gas prices have risen by 30 per cent and their UK retail director, Raymond Jack, said: “We understand times are difficult for many people and we have done what we can to absorb these additional costs for as long as possible to minimise the impact on our customers.”

One way to minimise the impact of rising prices is to shop around for the best gas and electric deal.  With fierce competition between energy suppliers, you can often save hundreds of pounds simply by switching on to a more competitive tariff with another supplier.

It is easy to compare gas and electric prices by using an online comparison service. You will typically need your postcode and your average gas and electricity usage (you can find your consumption on your latest bill). You will then be offered a number of tariffs which can save you money on your current bills.

Conserve your gas and electric

Reducing your consumption of gas and electric is also a good way of cutting your energy bills.

Installing a smart meter – a device that shows how much electricity your household is using – can be a good way of monitoring your energy habits and helping you to conserve power. Energy saving light bulbs are a simple and effective way of reducing your electricity bill, while taking showers instead of baths can also help to reduce the amount of gas or electricity you are using.

Fix your gas and electric payments

The charity National Energy Action believes that the planned price rises will result in a million households being plunged into ‘fuel poverty’. One way to protect yourself against future price rises is by considering fixing your energy payments.

Many energy suppliers now offer fixed rate tariffs which will guarantee your unit energy price for a specified period of time. This means that you can protect yourself against future price rises – although of course it means you won’t benefit in the event that gas and electric prices were to fall in the future.