Spring is the best time of year to cut your energy bills for the long term: turn the heating down or off as temperatures rise, submit a meter reading before the 1 April price cap change, check your direct debit and credit balance, and book boiler servicing and insulation work while demand is low. None of these needs much money, and several can be done in an afternoon.
This guide is a spring checklist. For the current price cap and winter-specific advice, see our guide to saving on energy bills this winter.
Get ready for the 1 April price cap change
Ofgem sets the energy price cap every three months, for January to March, April to June, July to September and October to December. The April level is announced in late February, so by spring you know whether unit rates and standing charges are going up or down.
If you are on a standard variable tariff, the new rates apply automatically from 1 April. Take a dated photo of your meters on 31 March or 1 April and submit the readings, so usage before the change is billed at the old rates rather than estimated. Smart meters send readings automatically, but check your account shows them.
Our price cap explainer covers what the cap does and does not limit: it caps unit rates and standing charges, not your total bill.
Turn the heating down in stages
Heating is the largest energy cost for most homes, so how you wind it down in spring matters more than anything else on this list.
- Shorten the heating schedule first, cutting the morning or evening slot, rather than switching it off on the first warm day
- Drop the thermostat by a degree and see whether you notice
- Turn off radiators in rooms you are not using and keep doors closed
- On a combi boiler, many households can lower the flow temperature; check your boiler manual or ask your engineer, especially if you have a hot water cylinder, which needs to stay hot enough to be safe
- When you switch the heating off for summer, use the boiler's summer or hot-water-only setting rather than turning it off completely
Check your direct debit and credit balance
Most fixed monthly direct debits are set to build credit in summer and use it in winter. That is normal, but by late spring you can check whether the balance is reasonable. If your account is well in credit after winter, ask your supplier to review the direct debit or refund some of the credit; Ofgem rules mean suppliers should refund credit when you ask unless they have a reasonable reason not to, such as needing it to cover winter use.
If you are in debt to your supplier after winter, talk to them now about a repayment plan you can manage. Spreading the shortfall over summer is far easier than carrying it into October.
Compare tariffs before summer
Spring is a sensible time to check whether a fixed tariff is cheaper than the price cap. Fixed deals come and go, so compare with a comparison site or the Citizens Advice supplier ratings rather than relying on any rate quoted weeks ago.
| Option | Suits you if | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Stay on the price cap | No fix beats it | Rates change every 3 months |
| Fixed tariff | You want certainty | Exit fees, higher standing charges |
| Time-of-use tariff | You can shift use off-peak | Peak rates can be high |
Our tariff switching guide explains how to compare on your own usage, which you can find in kWh on your annual statement or app.
Book jobs while demand is low
Heating engineers and insulation installers are busiest in autumn and winter. Booking in spring or early summer usually means more choice of dates and time to compare quotes.
- Boiler service: a well-maintained boiler runs more efficiently, and finding a fault in May is far less stressful than in December
- Draught-proofing: strips for doors and windows, chimney balloons and letterbox brushes are cheap DIY jobs
- Loft and cavity wall insulation: check whether you qualify for grant-funded work in our energy efficiency grants guide
- Bleed radiators and check valves so the system is ready when you switch back on
Cut the year-round costs
Once heating drops away, hot water and appliances make up more of your bill. A few habits cut these all year:
- Wash clothes at 30°C and dry them outside instead of in a tumble dryer
- Only boil the water you need in the kettle
- Turn appliances off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby
- Shorter showers save both water heating and water bills if you have a meter
- Use your smart meter display or supplier app to spot devices that use more than you expected; our DIY home energy audit shows you how
Put the savings to work
A lower summer bill is easy to absorb into everyday spending without noticing. Instead, decide now where the difference goes: a buffer for next winter's bills, or a savings goal. Moving the amount you save each month into a separate pot makes the saving real. Use our budget planner to see how much your energy costs change between seasons, and the savings goal calculator to build a winter fund. SYM can turn that into a small daily amount to put aside.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about cutting energy bills in spring.
When should I turn my central heating off in spring?
Should I give a meter reading before 1 April?
Can I get my energy credit refunded?
Is spring a good time to fix my energy tariff?
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