UNTIL the winter bills start coming in, loft insulation is the last thing most of us want to think about.

But by the time we get round to making those energy saving changes, sometimes the financial damage has already been done.

Although we all know the credit crunch and rising fuel prices could send our utility bills through the roof this year, it can still be hard to get motivated.

Luckily the Energy Saving Trust has a network of Energy Doctors ready to listen to questions and help reduce your gas and electricity bills.

Energy Doctor Tamara Mauro said a few small changes could save people £270 per year.

"Our latest research shows 80 per cent of people are worried about their energy bills this winter," she said.

"And while there's definitely been an increase in awareness about saving energy, often people are too busy to do anything about it. But it really doesn't take long to make a few changes."

Mauro said the beauty of the EST service was that the advice was tailored to the individual's home.

"You'll get everything from basic help about about not leaving your television on standby, to how to get the loft insulated. People don't always realise that there are grants available for some of the more expensive energy saving measures," she said.

This winter is likely to be a test of the nation's financial resilience.

Energy prices will be high and the economic outlook gloomy. But in such financially testing times, consumers should not bury their heads in the sand.

Two years ago consumer campaign body Which? set up a site designed to help people find the right deals on gas and electricity.

"We do see a definite increase in traffic to the site whenever there are price rises," said Which spokesperson Alison Morrison.

"All of the suppliers put up their prices in response to rises in the wholesale oil market earlier this year, and we had a lot of concern from our callers wanting to know what they could do. Spikes also correlate to people receiving their bills. After Christmas people will get their first winter bills, and we'll get lots of enquires."

Which? offers a free online energy comparison service, Switch with Which. Using information from their energy bills, consumers can get details of all available tariffs, as well as customer service ratings for each supplier and, most importantly, how much they can save by switching.

"In the last year, people who used the Switch with Which? service to change their supplier or tariff saved an average of £200 on their annual bills," Morrison says.

"To use the site you need two key pieces of information. Which tariff you're on, and your annual usage. Most people, if you ask them, don't actually know what tariff they're on, so you just need to call your energy supplier and ask. Then to get the best deal, you also need to know what your usage is over the last year, and that means getting hold of a couple of bills. After that it's very simple and straightforward."

KNOW YOUR TARIFFS:

Capped: Guarantees that the unit price (often called the kilowatt hour price - kWh) of your electricity or gas will not rise beyond a certain level (the 'cap') for a fixed period of time. The unit price will normally always be higher than the supplier's standard tariff, but could decrease accordingly if its standard prices come down during the period. There may be an 'exit fee' to pay if you choose to switch your supplier before the fixed period has expired, so go through the terms and conditions of the offer carefully before signing up.

Dual fuel: By far the most popular choice of consumers and can be combined with many other tariffs. Energy suppliers often offer a big discount to customers who decide to buy both gas and electricity from the same supplier.

Economy7: This is an electricity tariff most suitable for people who run appliances such as storage heaters and hot water at night. You will pay less for the electricity you use during the night than during the day. We estimate that you need to use roughly 20 per cent of your total electricity use between 1am and 8am to make a saving.

Green: Eco-conscious consumers can now choose electricity tariffs that guarantee that each unit of electricity they use will be matched by one purchased by their supplier from a renewable source, such as a wind farm. Gas cannot be obtained from renewable sources but some suppliers do offer tariffs that offset the carbon produced when gas is consumed. There are different types of green tariffs available on the market today. Some invest in environmental projects other than renewable generation for example, so make sure you know what you're paying for.

Fixed: Similar to a capped tariff, but guarantees that your unit price will not rise at all for a set period of time. However, as prices are fixed or 'frozen', you won't benefit from any reduction in the company's standard prices during the period. These tariffs may also involve an exit fee so check again before signing up.

Online: These tariffs are usually the cheapest available and are growing in popularity. Frequently these tariffs will require you to manage your account online. Online account management, or paperless billing, allows you to receive your energy bills online instead of by post. You'll be set up with an online account accessed via your provider's website and be required to enter your own meter readings, usually every quarter. You can also view a history of your bills to easily keep track of your energy usage. Online account management doesn't prevent you from calling your energy supplier and discussing any queries over the telephone, nor does it require you to pay your bills online.

10 STEPS TO ENERGY HEAVEN

Just a few simple changes can make a home more energy efficient and save money at the same time. Switch with Which? explains how to stop suffering from Standby and make Light fantastic with these top 10 tips.

1. Turn off lights when you leave a room and invest in energy saving light bulbs – low energy bulbs last up to 10 times longer and can cut bills considerably.

2. Lowering the temperature on your thermostat by 1C can reduce heating bills by up to 10 per cent saving around £40 per year.

3. Lower the radiator temperature to minimum settings in 'spare' rooms to reduce bills.

4. Cut out those drafts! Close your curtains, seal windows with draught excluder or fit spring-flap covers over letterboxes or keyholes.

5. Whether you're cooking or just making a cup of tea only boil as much water as you need and use the small gas ring or hob if possible.

6. Since most of your energy bill goes on heating and up to a third of that disappears through the roof, make sure it's well insulated and you'll save up to £100 a year.

7. TVs, computers, radios and plug points are often left on standby – switch them off to save electricity that you're not getting use out of

8. An efficient boiler can dramatically reduce heating bills.

9. Energy efficient appliances are a great way to save money on bills. If you don't have an 'A' rated washing machine, consider lowering the temperature of your wash.

10. Switch with Which?. On average, people who changed supplier with Switch with Which? saved £233 a year.