If you're worried about how you'll pay your energy bills this winter, here's all the help with gas and electricity that students can get.

There are countless reasons for the current energy crisis that's being felt in the UK and across the world.

We're here to help you understand what's going on and the help that's out there. Read on to discover how much you could be paying for energy this year, plus the support funds you can look to for funding.

What is the energy price cap?

The energy price cap is a legally enforced limit on the price of gas and electricity. It's designed to stop energy suppliers from charging you significantly more for energy than it costs them to source it.

Although it's often advertised as a cap on the overall cost of your bill, the energy price cap is actually a limit on the cost per unit of energy. This means there is no cap on how expensive your bill could be.

So, in the height of the crisis, when we were hearing of the energy price cap being £2,500 per year, this figure was what the average household's bill would have been during that particular price cap.

If your household size or energy usage exceeds the average, your annual bill could exceed the advertised price cap. And likewise, if you're part of a small household or use very little energy, your annual bill will probably be less than the advertised cap.

Also, remember that even if you somehow managed to use no energy at all, you'd still have to pay the standing charge. This is a daily fee you pay to cover the cost of supplying your property with gas and electricity, and it's also subject to a cap.

What if your energy provider increases your Direct Debit?

When you pay your energy bills by Direct Debit, energy providers generally charge you a flat amount each month. You might overpay in the summer and underpay in the winter, but the idea is that it levels out across the year. It's quick and easy, and you usually get a small discount for paying this way.

But in the weeks and months leading up to the initial price cap announcement, people across the country were contacted by their energy supplier to say their Direct Debit payments were going up. And often it was by several hundred pounds - far more than their actual bills would increase by.

If you find your Direct Debit has increased far above your actual usage, here's what to do:

1. Claim the money back - If your energy account is in credit (i.e. you've paid in more than needed), you can reclaim the extra money at any time. This won't change the Direct Debit going forward, but it does at least claw some cash back if they've already taken a huge payment.
2. Try to change the Direct Debit online - Head to your online account and see if you can change the payment amount there. This may not work, but it's certainly worth a go.
3. Call your supplier - Energy companies must be able to justify how they've calculated your Direct Debit amount. Ask them to supply the meter readings they've used to reach the new amount* and see if they match up with those on your bills. If your account is in credit, use this as proof that they're charging you too much.
4. Complain to the energy ombudsman - If your supplier won't change your Direct Debit amount and can't explain why, you can complain to the industry ombudsman. Our guide to making complaints has more info.

* Take this as a reminder to submit monthly meter readings to your energy provider. Unless you have a smart meter, failing to submit readings just means your company has to guess how much energy you're using - and they could be way off.

Other help with energy bills from your supplier

Even if you're not eligible for a hardship grant from your energy supplier, there are still ways they can help you, including:

• Extra time to pay
• A review of your current payment plan
• Creating a debt repayment plan
• Payment breaks.

To find out all of your options, contact your supplier or head to their website.

Sources

Save The Student
How to get help with energy bills

By Save The Student
Save The Student is the UK's leading student money website, helping you budget your money, make sense of student finance, look for part-time jobs, find extra funding and more. Founded in 2007, the website provides free and impartial guides, tools and verified deals to tackle the real-life money problems students face at university.