UK households urged to spend £12 to get £257 with British Gas, OVO, EON or EDF

Households across the UK looking to save money on their energy bills going into this winter are being urged to spend £12 to get £257 back.

The Energy Savings Trust has put out key advice to households about how they can try to cut their down, as the average bill rose by £149 to £1,717 in the latest price cap change.

Now UK households are being told to use an energy use monitor. Whether you're with , , , , Utilita or another firm, these cost anywhere between £12 and £89 and can slash your bill by as much as 15 percent, or £257 off the average £1,717 bill.

Energy use monitors attach to your meter and display on a screen exactly what you're using at that moment.

They can help you track down the appliances you didn't know you had switched on, left on standby or which are otherwise drawing down a huge amount of power without you realising.

The Centre For Sustainable Energy says: "An energy monitor display shows the impact of turning a particular light or appliance on or off. It can tell you which things in your house use the most energy. And this can help you decide which energy-hungry appliances to use sparingly to cut your fuel costs.

"If you have a smart meter, you will likely have been offered an energy monitor (also called an 'in-home display') by your energy supplier. The monitor will show you your electricity usage, and also your gas if you have it.

"Some suppliers encourage customers to use a phone app instead of providing an energy monitor, but data from the app is quite limited in comparison.

"Monitors should be plugged in somewhere visible, such as the kitchen or sitting room, so that you can keep an eye on them. If you can't have a smart meter - or don't want one - you can still buy a standalone energy monitor, but it will only monitor electricity."