Martin Lewis explains how to slash hundreds off energy bills – you don't have to switch

More so, even if you’re scared of switching firm, right now you may be able to save £100s and stick with your existing provider. So as we’re in the core of winter, carpe diem (translation: get off your bum and try to give it a go).

Are you one of the 11m massively overpaying?

Anyone who’s with a big six company – British Gas, Eon, EDF, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE – and is on their standard tariff (which is almost everyone who hasn’t switched in the last year). 

Even if you’re not with them, as prices have dropped rapidly in the last year, many can still save. One big issue here is many people assume energy companies have one price. They don’t.

They can have lots of different tariffs – yes that does literally mean they charge different people totally different amounts for the same thing. So the key is to ensure you’re one of those being charged less not more.

To prove the point, those on British Gas and EDF standard tariffs as I write this, are paying around the price cap figure of £1,178 a year – for typical use (if you use more or less, you’ll pay more or less roughly in proportion).

Yet both providers, have another tariff at under £900/year, for the same use, and they’re fixed deals – so you know for a year the rate won’t rise. 

That means it’s £280/yr cheaper for the same gas, same electricity, same safety and same service – just a different price.

And better still both these tariffs allow not only new, but existing customers too, to get them – as long as you do it the right way.

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Of course those willing to move company can save even more. Currently, the cheapest deals on the market are around £830/yr for typical usage. 

So if you’re willing to switch firm, move to that and you could be paying £350/yr less. 

On the back of me talking about this on telly the other day Melanie got in contact, “Just watched Martin Lewis and did an energy comparison. By staying with my supplier I can save £355/yr. Thank you.”

You can’t just get these deals – you have to do it the right way.Energy firms don’t just move you to its cheaper deals. These are generally reserved for pro-active switchers.

This is all about using a comparison site like my www.cheapenergyclub.co.uk which is whole of market (and includes a ‘stick with my existing provider’ filter).

It also gives £25 cashback per dual fuel switch, which you wouldn’t get direct, or any www.ofgem.gov.uk approved comparison sites. For Northern Ireland use www.consumercouncil.org.uk.

There are two reasons to do this:

1. There is no one cheapest provider. Your cheapest depends on where you live and how much you use. A comparison site works it out for you and tells you the exact saving.

2. Some (though not all) cheap tariffs – including the cheapest from British Gas, EDF and E.on, are ONLY AVAILABLE via comparison sites.