With householders worrying about how they are going to pay their energy bills this winter, the government has unveiled plans to make sure gas and electricity prices represent a better deal.

Energy secretary Edward Davey announced a proposal to limit energy providers to just four core tariffs per fuel type and move customers off 'dead' tariffs.

"I am determined to ensure all consumers get a better deal on their energy bill and get the cheapest tariff they can," he said.

"Bill payers will no longer face the impossible choice between hundreds of tariffs; each customer will have a maximum of four tariffs for gas or electricity per supplier to consider. And households will have personalised information from their supplier on their bills about the cheapest tariff the supplier offers for their payment method and the cheapest tariff overall."

One way in which householders could significantly lower their energy bills is by choosing more efficient LED light bulbs over traditional incandescents. Bath & North East Somerset Council has done just this for its street lighting recently as it hopes to cut £200,000 from its electricity budget, as well as save nearly 800 tonnes of carbon a year.

Councillor Roger Symonds told ThisisBath.co.uk that LED technology provides a safer environment because the light emitted is much brighter than that of other types of bulb. He mentioned that the local authority have the opportunity to save "substantial" amounts of taxpayers' money, which supports its priority of protecting essential frontline services.

"The lighting uses extremely clever dimming technology to reduce lighting levels according to the amount of traffic using the road. It is a terrific example of the council improving a service to the public whilst saving money and it is also good for the environment," he said, adding that the LED lighting project affecting 16,000 streetlights will be complete in spring 2013.