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Ahead of our Q&A, switching service Uswitch provided us with a list of what it considers the cheapest energy tariffs on the market right now.

It's worth reading the advice from Which? in our Q&A below (see 15.02 post) before deciding to switch from a standard variable tariff (that's what most households are on) - but if you're aware of the risks, then cheaper energy is available...

A big thanks to all those who submitted a question for our Q&A on the day the energy price cap fell - and sorry if we didn't get to yours.

A big thanks also toEmily Seymour, Which? energy editor, andKate Mulvany, a principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, for tackling 10 of your questions so thoroughly.

Scroll down to read through their answers.

Kate Mulvany, a principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, says..

The outlook for the upcoming winter appears promising, with strong gas reserves across Europe providing a healthy buffer to seasonal demand.

While a very cold winter would increase the need for gas for heating across Europe, the UK's ability to secure gas and electricity from multiple sources keeps the risk of disruption to the flow of energy relatively low.

Quite a few things would need to go wrong at the same time for there to be an increased risk of a widespread blackout.

However, short-term blackouts would still be possible - as indeed at any time of year - due to storms or other weather incidents, as well as through localised network issues.

It's worth mentioning that ministers have claimed the UK faces blackouts without new gas-fired power stations...

The bigger risk for homes in the UK is the pressure on energy bills. Although electricity and gas supplies appear healthy, affordability remains a concern, as seen in recent winters - particularly 2022-23.

Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, says...

As we said in one of our previous answers, there isn't a "one size fits all" for the best deals out there as it will all depend on individual circ*mstances.

However, there are some tariffs available that are cheaper than the current price cap and might be worth considering.

When Which? last checked, Ecotricity and Ovo both had fixed deals available for cheaper than the July price cap.

However, Ecotricity's deal requires a smart meter - or you to agree to have one fitted - and Ovo's is only available if you also buy annual boiler cover, so you'll need to weigh up if this is right for you. Both also come with exit fees if you want to leave early.

Tracker tariffs change in price relative to the price cap every three months when the price cap is reset to offer slightly cheaper rates than you'd be paying otherwise, and could be worth considering. They're currently available from E.ON Next, Scottish Power and Fuse Energy.

Consumers can use switching services - like Which? Switch Energy - to keep an eye on the best fixed deals available and compare deals to see what's cheapest for them.

We'd always recommend checking the exit fees on fixed deals so you're not tied into a tariff if something better becomes available.

Kate Mulvany, a principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, says..

The current government has explored various methods to decouple wholesale gas and electricity prices through a programme called the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA).

However, each option identified presented potential drawbacks for customers, as well as benefits.

For example, one proposed solution was to set different prices for electricity generated by renewable sources compared to that generated by more carbon-intensive methods, such as burning gas.

A significant challenge is that the country cannot yet generate all its electricity from renewable sources 24/7.

During shortfalls, such as on a winter evening with low wind, non-variable renewable generation methods would still need to be used, meaning customers would still see the impacts of gas prices in those of electricity.

Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, says...

For the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payment and Winter Heating payment, you should receive any discounts automatically if you're eligible.

For the Warm Home Discount, each energy supplier also has its own eligibility criteria, which are approved by the energy regulator Ofgem, so you should check with your provider to see whether you meet its requirements.

If you were born before 25 September 1957, it's also likely you'll be able to get Winter Fuel Payments of between £100 and £300 for winter 2023-24.

The payments are to help pay for your gas or electric heating in winter. You should get this automatically and should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre if you think you're eligible but haven't received anything.

Energy companies are obliged to help you if you tell them you are struggling to pay and will not disconnect you if you miss a bill payment.

If you are struggling with your bills, let your provider know and explain that you want to establish a payment plan that you can afford.

Discuss your options with them, as they may include a review of your payments, a reduction in your payments or a payment break, more time to pay, and access to hardship funds.

Kate Mulvany, a principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, says...

At this point in time, we are not expecting a return to pre-COVID prices.

This is primarily due to the significant rise in the wholesale prices of electricity and gas following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The cost of the fuel - the wholesale cost or the commodity cost - is the largest part of the energy bill.

Although some non-wholesale components of energy bills may decrease, the main factor driving prices is the cost of commodities.

The UK's heavy reliance on imported electricity and natural gas exacerbates this issue.

Therefore, increasing investment in domestic renewable and low-carbon energy sources is crucial to reduce this dependency.

Additionally, implementing measures to decouple electricity and gas prices in the wholesale market could help lower bills.

Kate Mulvany, a principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, says...

The price cap limits the unit rates and standing charge levels that suppliers can charge domestic customers across many circ*mstances.

Some parts of the energy price cap are directly regulated by Ofgem, while others, such as wholesale energy costs, reflect market conditions.

The price cap includes various elements such as wholesale energy costs, network costs (the cost of moving gas and electricity around the country), operating costs, environmental and social policy costs, and the allowable profit for suppliers.

The role of energy suppliers is to purchase electricity from generators and sell it to customers, managing customer service, billing and other retail functions.

Ofgem's formula for the price cap includes an allowance for suppliers to make a profit, which is overall a relatively small percentage of the total price cap amount.

Headlines about energy companies' profits can refer to companies involved throughout the energy industry, not just suppliers.

For example, companies that extract and transport gas or which generate electricity might not have prices directly regulated by Ofgem.

There is global competition for energy, and so attempts for the UK to control wholesale costs might have an impact on security of supply.

Since the cap limits unit rates and standing charge levels, but not the total bill, there has been increasing support for a social tariff, which would offer discounted deals to vulnerable households.

Social tariffs for energy are not a new policy; they have been implemented before and are currently used in other sectors, such as telecommunications and broadband.

Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, says...

Prepayment unit prices are a little cheaper than the price-capped variable tariffs for direct debit customers at the moment.

Prepayment prices used to always be more expensive than paying by direct debit to account for higher admin costs, but the government pledged to scrap the extra charges for prepayment meter customers and prices are now more balanced.

However, I'd have a couple of words of caution to anyone thinking of switching to prepayment just for cheaper unit prices.

Most notably, this price difference is only for customers paying a price-capped variable rate - as soon as you look at fixed deals, direct debit customers tend to have access to cheaper options, with fewer available for prepayment customers.

Next, prepayment meters aren't as convenient - you will need to remember to physically top up your meter when your credit runs low.

Finally, prepayment meter customers aren't able to spread their energy costs evenly throughout the year like direct debit customers - so you will need to pay significantly more into your account through the winter and less in the summer, which can be difficult to budget for.

Kate Mulvany, a principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, says..

Even if your energy company uses 100% renewable, your bills can still be affected by wholesale market price fluctuations.

Your supplier might secure the energy you need by investing in renewable sources like solar farms, wind turbines or hydro power.

However, the energy generated by renewables is not always available exactly when you need it.

For instance, solar power produces lots of electricity during the day, but customers might need electricity in the evening or during winter nights.

And because renewable energy supply and demand don't always match perfectly, suppliers also will rely on electricity that comes from the general electricity grid.

The supplier likely ensures the amount of energy you use in a year is equivalent to the amount of renewable electricity generated and put into the grid on your behalf, but this isn't matched on a minute-by-minute basis.

Since electricity must be used instantly after it's generated, or it needs to be stored which is often expensive, you might use electricity that was generated from non-renewable sources like gas.

Electricity prices are often influenced by the price of gas, so if gas prices go up, the cost of electricity from the grid rises too, affecting your bill.

It's worth noting that not all renewable energy tariffs are regulated by Ofgem the same way, and sometimes, customers on renewable tariffs might end up paying more than those on the price cap.

Our business correspondent Paul Kelso explains in the video below why the UK needs to switch to renewables...