Q My energy bills have just gone up by £200 a month, a rise I can’t afford. The advice always used to be to shop around for a better deal if your bills were too high. Is this still the case? If not, any tips on what I can do to cut them?

A Unfortunately that is no longer a viable option. Experts are advising people to stay with their existing companies, as there are no longer meaningful savings to be made by shopping around. The only exception is if you are on a fixed-rate deal that is more expensive than the new price cap. In this case, the major suppliers have agreed to let you move penalty-free to a cheaper variable rate.

However, you may be able to cut the cost of your energy bills without changing supplier. For example, comparison site Uswitch (uswitch.com) has just launched a new mobile app Utrack that links to your smart meter and gives you personalised ideas of ways to reduce your energy bills. You can also:

Pay by direct debit each month and save an average £100 a year. As companies know they are going to get paid regularly, and can keep any interest in overpayments, they offer cheaper bills.

Send in regular meter readings so your bills are based on your actual usage and not an estimate. Get a smart meter if you can, so you can accurately track your usage.

Turn your thermostat down by one degree and shave up to ten per cent off your annual bill.

The Energy Savings Trust recommends heating houses at between 18-21 degrees Celsius.
Review how you use your appliances. Make sure washing machines and dishwashers are full before you turn them on and consider washing clothes at a lower temperature if you can. Try running appliances on their eco mode.

Can you use a microwave, air fryer or slow cooker to cook meals every once in a while, as they use less energy than an oven?

Turn appliances off at the wall when not in use as they still use energy on standby mode.
Take showers rather than baths to use both less energy and water.
Fit draft excluders on doors and around window frames where possible to save around £45 a year. A chimney balloon will stop cold drafts from entering your house from this route.

Consider linking your heating to an app so you control it easily when the house is empty.

Also make sure you are getting all the help you are entitled to.

People on benefits and those who get the winter fuel payment for example gets extra help with energy bills.

In addition, you may qualify for a grant or loan to replace your boiler or for loft and cavity wall insulation to cut bills.

MoneySavingExpert (moneysavingexpert.com) has a useful guide to what is available. Also research the Government’s Warm Home Energy Discount scheme (www.gov.uk), which reopens in November to see if you qualify.