The Lead Untangles: A practical guide on what to do about your energy bills – right now
Worried about how the war in Iran might affect household costs? We spoke to Lesley Tudor-Snodin, Head of Advice at National Energy Action for some actionable tips.
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At a glance facts
The ongoing war in the Middle East, particularly the conflict involving Iran and its strikes on regional infrastructure, has injected fresh volatility into global energy markets.
A key reason for this is disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage through which roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil and gas normally flows.
Threats, attacks and reduced traffic through this chokepoint mean less oil is reaching global markets, which in turn pushes up the risk premium built into prices.
With output curtailed in some Gulf producers and insurers charging more for shipping through the region, benchmark crude oil has climbed sharply – briefly climbing to almost $120 for the first time in years – as investors and consumers price in the prospect of tighter supply and prolonged instability.
These higher wholesale oil costs feed through into fuel and heating prices internationally, and economists warn that if the conflict persists, elevated energy prices could add to inflationary pressures and cost-of-living pressures.
Worried? We asked Lesley Tudor-Snodin, Head of Advice at National Energy Action [NEA] for some practical advice for UK households.
What this means for your energy bills
There are different ways households can get energy, for example some use all electricity, some use electricity and gas, while others use liquid fuels like LPG.
Households living in remote or rural areas are more likely to use liquid fuels like LPG to heat their home. Heating oil is not regulated, unlike the gas and electricity markets, and there is no price cap in place. This means those households are being hit harder and faster by immediate price hikes, and the NEA is aware of households reporting order cancellations or being unable to purchase the amount of fuel they require.
If you are a domestic gas customer, your bills are protected for now. The April–June 2026 price cap has already been set by Ofgem at £1,641 for a typical household. This is actually a reduction of 6.6 per cent on the previous quarter. So average bills are going down in the short term, not up. The risk is the July 2026 price cap onwards, which hasn’t been set yet. That’s where rising wholesale prices caused by the conflict could start to feed through to households.
Typically, summer is the time of lowest energy use for UK households as heating costs are lower, so this gives time to prepare, not panic, to be ready for next winter.
What can I do right now?
Check your tariff type now, or for liquid fuel customers, your pricing plan.
If you’re on a fixed tariff with months left to run, staying put is likely wise. If you’re on a variable tariff or coming to the end of a fixed deal, it may be worth considering fixing, but shop around first, as suppliers have been pulling deals quickly in response to wholesale uncertainty. Liquid fuel customers can switch supplier on a delivery-by-delivery basis. You might also be able to save on costs by joining a local ‘oil club’.
Reduce your usage where you can. Small changes add up:
Turning your thermostat down by just 1°C can make a noticeable difference to your bill. But remember that a healthy home should typically be 18 to 21 degrees.
Run dishwashers and washing machines at off-peak times, especially if you’re on a smart tariff.
Draught-proof doors and windows with cheap foam strips from any DIY shop.
Bleed your radiators and check your boiler pressure. A poorly maintained system uses more gas/oil than it needs to.
National Energy Action also has leaflets on how much items cost to run. Airfryers can be cheaper to run than ovens, taking shorter showers and making sure your heating system is running efficiently can help. All leaflets can be translated into over 160 languages.
Myself or someone I know is vulnerable. Is there additional support?
Payment plans
Don’t ignore a bill you can’t pay. Contact your supplier early. They are legally required to offer you a payment plan and cannot disconnect you without first offering support.
Know that if you have a disability, are over 65, have a child under five, or if you are pregnant, you can’t be forced on to a prepayment meter if you don’t want one.
Warm Home Discount
If you receive certain means-tested benefits, you may be eligible for £150 off your electricity bill, credited automatically. You don’t need to apply. Contact your supplier or check GOV.UK to confirm your eligibility.
Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners
If you’re of State Pension age, you should receive a Winter Fuel Payment automatically £200 for under-80s, £300 for over-80s. If you haven’t received it and believe you’re eligible, check GOV.UK or call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160.
Prepayment meter users – fuel vouchers
If you can’t afford to top up your prepayment meter, you may be able to get a fuel voucher – a code sent by letter, text or email that adds credit to your gas card or electricity key. Ask your supplier or contact your local council.
If, during the summer months, you can afford to continue to top up a little bit more than you are using, this will act as a piggy bank so there is money saved on the meter for autumn and winter usage.
Priority Services Register – free extra support
Sign up with your gas and electricity supplier if you’re elderly, disabled, have a serious or chronic illness, or have young children at home. It’s completely free and means you get priority support, advance notice of outages, and additional help in an emergency. Contact your supplier directly to register.
Energy debt grants
If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, grants are available to help clear it. The British Gas Energy Trust is open to all customers regardless of who supplies them. Other suppliers run similar hardship funds. Check their websites or search online to see what is open.
Warm Homes Plan – free home upgrades
The government’s Warm Homes Plan offers eligible low-income and fuel-poor households support towards insulation, solar panels and heating upgrades. Check gov.uk or ask your local council whether you qualify.
Where to get help right now
National Energy Action’s Energy and Benefits Advice Support Service – 0800 304 7159 (free)
Citizens Advice – citizensadvice.org.uk or 0800 144 8848 (free)
GOV.UK – search ‘help with energy bills’
Your energy supplier – ask about hardship funds, payment plans and the Priority Services Register
Lightning Reach is an organisation that helps anyone facing financial hardship to receive support, recover from shocks and achieve financial resilience.
NI Energy Advice or Finance Support Service (in Northern Ireland)
Contact the Nest scheme or Discretionary Assistance Fund (in Wales)
In England, contact your local authority to ask about the Household Support Fund (from April, these will be known as Crisis and Resilience Funds)■
About the author: Lesley Tudor-Snodin is Head of Advice at National Energy Action.
About The Lead Untangles: In an era where misinformation is actively and deliberately used by elected politicians and where advocates and opposers of beliefs state their point of view as fact, sometimes the most useful tool reporters have is to help readers make sense of the world. If there is something you’d like us to untangle, email ella@thelead.uk.
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