Energy bills keep climbing, and if you've ever stared at your monthly statement wondering where all that money actually went, you're not alone. That helpless feeling -- knowing you're probably overpaying but not knowing what to do about it -- is something most households share.
Here's the direct answer: AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude can help you analyse your bills, understand confusing tariffs, and find realistic ways to cut your energy costs -- without needing a spreadsheet or financial expertise. All it takes is a few well-crafted prompts and a willingness to paste in some numbers.
Analyse Your Current Bills
The single most useful thing AI can do with your utility bills is spot what you've been missing. Most of us glance at the total, wince, and pay it. But the details buried in those statements -- unit rates, standing charges, estimated vs actual readings -- often reveal where the real waste is hiding.
We spent months overpaying before we tried analysing our bills properly. The issue wasn't that we were using too much -- our tariff had quietly shifted to a variable rate after a fixed deal ended, and we hadn't noticed. A two-minute AI conversation flagged it immediately.
Here's what we'd suggest trying. Gather your last three energy bills (gas and electric), then paste the key figures into this prompt:
Here are my last 3 months of energy bills:
[Month 1]: Electricity: [kWh used], [total cost]. Gas: [kWh used], [total cost]. Standing charge: [daily rate].
[Month 2]: ...
[Month 3]: ...
I live in a [X-bedroom] house in the UK with [number] occupants.
Please:
1. Identify any unusual spikes in usage or cost
2. Compare my usage to the UK average for a household like mine
3. Flag anything that suggests I might be overpaying (e.g. high standing charges, estimated readings, tariff issues)
4. Suggest 3 specific things I could investigate further
The AI will flag seasonal patterns, highlight whether your per-unit rate looks high compared to current averages, and point out months that look like estimates rather than actual readings. It's the kind of analysis that would take a savvy friend an hour -- and most of us don't have that friend.
Compare Tariffs and Suppliers
Understanding what you're actually paying for is half the battle. Energy tariffs in the UK come with a tangle of terminology -- fixed rates, variable rates, exit fees, standing charges, Economy 7 -- and suppliers don't make it easy to compare like with like.
AI won't replace a proper comparison site, and it shouldn't. For actual switching, Ofgem and sites like MoneySuperMarket are where the real numbers live. But AI is brilliant at explaining what those numbers mean before you commit.
If you're comparing two quotes and the jargon is making your eyes glaze over, try this:
"I've been offered two energy tariffs. Tariff A is a 12-month fix at 24.5p/kWh electricity and 6.2p/kWh gas with a 28p/day standing charge and a GBP50 exit fee. Tariff B is variable at 22.1p/kWh electricity and 5.8p/kWh gas with a 46p/day standing charge and no exit fee. Based on my usage of [X kWh electricity and Y kWh gas per month], which would cost me less over 12 months? Show the working."
What comes back is a side-by-side cost comparison with the maths laid out. In our experience, the standing charge difference alone can swing the answer -- something that's easy to overlook when you're just comparing unit rates.
Find Hidden Savings at Home
Once you understand what you're spending, the next question is what you can actually change. AI produces surprisingly useful energy advice here, because it can tailor recommendations to your specific home rather than giving you the same generic tips you've already seen.
Here's a prompt worth trying:
I live in a 3-bedroom semi-detached house built in the 1980s with gas central heating, double glazing, and a combi boiler that's about 12 years old. We have a tumble dryer and a chest freezer in the garage. Our energy bill is roughly GBP180/month.
What are the 10 most impactful things I can do to reduce my energy bill, ranked by cost to implement? For each one, give me a rough estimate of how much it might save per year in pounds.
The specificity matters. Telling the AI your boiler's age, house type, and appliances means it can flag things like: "A 12-year-old combi boiler runs at roughly 85% efficiency -- a modern one hits 92-94%. That gap could be worth GBP150-200 a year, but a replacement costs GBP2,000-3,000, so it's a longer-term investment." That kind of nuanced, ranked advice beats a leaflet telling you to turn your thermostat down by one degree.
If this feels like a lot, start with the free and low-cost suggestions. Draught-proofing, smart heating schedules, and switching off standby appliances can save a typical household GBP100-200 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust -- and none of them cost more than a weekend afternoon.
🧠 Quick Challenge: You're comparing two energy tariffs. Tariff A has a lower unit rate (22p/kWh electricity). Tariff B has a higher unit rate (25p/kWh) but a much lower standing charge. For a typical UK household, which is most likely true?
- A) Tariff A is always cheaper — the unit rate matters most because you pay it on every kWh
- B) Tariff B is always cheaper — the standing charge adds up every single day
- C) It depends on your usage — high-usage homes favour lower unit rates, low-usage homes favour lower standing charges
Answer: C) As the article explains in the tariff comparison section, the standing charge difference alone can swing the answer between two tariffs. A household using 300 kWh per month saves £9/month with Tariff A's lower rate — but if Tariff B's standing charge is 18p/day less, that claws back £5.40/month. The best deal depends on your specific usage, which is exactly why pasting real numbers into an AI prompt gives you a clearer answer than comparing headline rates.
Track Spending Over Time
A single bill analysis is useful, but tracking your spending over six to twelve months is where the real patterns emerge -- seasonal spikes, the impact of a new appliance, or a slow upward creep you wouldn't notice month to month.
If you've been saving your bills (even as photos or PDFs), try pasting the totals into this prompt:
"Here are my monthly electricity and gas costs for the last 12 months: [list them]. Can you identify any trends, flag months that look unusually high or low, and tell me whether my overall spending is going up, down, or staying flat? If there are seasonal patterns, explain what's likely causing them."
Even this basic approach reveals things like: your bills jump 40% every November but you're not turning the heating on until December -- which might mean a tariff change or an estimated reading that's too high. These patterns are genuinely hard to spot one bill at a time.
For anyone who wants to go further, try asking AI to build a simple monthly tracker: "Create a monthly utility budget tracker with columns for gas, electricity, water, and council tax, plus a running total and percentage change from last month." Something practical in seconds -- no spreadsheet skills required.
What AI Can't Do Here
AI tools don't have access to your actual energy accounts. They can't log into your supplier's portal, see your real-time usage, or switch tariffs for you. The numbers they give are based on UK averages and the information you provide -- a strong starting point, not a final answer.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Always verify tariff comparisons against an accredited comparison site before switching
- AI doesn't know about local grants or discounts you might be eligible for (though it can help you find what to search for)
- Energy prices change regularly -- an analysis based on last month's rates might not reflect today's market
- If the AI flags something unusual on your bill, contact your supplier directly to confirm
Think of AI as the sharp-eyed friend who helps you understand the paperwork -- not the one who signs on the dotted line for you.
The tools to take control of your household bills are already on your phone or laptop. A few clear prompts, some real numbers, and about 15 minutes -- that's genuinely all it takes to start making smarter decisions about where your money goes.
If you found these prompts useful, there are dozens more in our Prompt Library -- ready-made templates for everyday tasks including budgeting, meal planning, and career development. And if you'd like to build your confidence with AI more broadly, our Learning Paths are designed for exactly that -- practical skills you can use straight away.
Ready to go further? Browse the Prompt Library for ready-made prompts across dozens of everyday scenarios -- from budgeting to career planning. Or explore how to write AI prompts that actually work to sharpen every prompt you use.
