Although fuel prices have been falling recently, they have more than doubled in the last six years, so the average household now pays £200 more for electricity and £400 more for gas than they did in 2003.
One way to reduce your costs is to change your supplier.
Many fuel companies now operate dual fuel schemes which can save you money if you buy both gas and electricity from them.
Visit an internet price comparison site to check what the different domestic fuel suppliers are offering.
Many now offer a range of incentives such as online tariffs, green tariffs that help the environment, special tariffs for older people and discounts for prompt payment.
To see how much you could save, you'll need to work out how much you are paying for your fuel now.
You can do this by looking at your bills for the past year.
You can find out more about changing your fuel supplier from consumer watchdog Consumer Focus at www.consumerfocus.org.uk or by phoning Consumer Direct on 0845 404 0506.
Here are some questions to ask before deciding to change to a new supplier:
how much will they charge? does the quotation include 5% VAT and any standing charges?
what payment methods are available?
are there any penalties for cancelling the contract once signed?
which tariff suits me best?
what is the supplier's record like on complaints?
Next month we will look at finding the cheapest way to pay and what to do if you are struggling to pay your fuel bills.
