The average energy bill for households in England, Wales and Scotland on a standard variable tariff will rise by 6.4% from April 1, but you can do these five things now to save money
The annual increase of £111 is the third time in a row that Ofgem has hiked prices on energy bills – a move that will put even more pressure on people’s finances. But there are some simple swaps you can do to save money and reduce how much energy you use.
In a survey by Quotezone, 70% of respondents felt they were overpaying for their energy use, but there are ways to keep costs down and beat the April price rise. Greg Wilson, energy comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk says: “We have done the maths and found that simply trying to avoid bad energy habits could save you up to £230 on your bills each year.
“Really simple things like using cheaper kitchen appliances, only filling your kettle with as much hot water as you need and keeping curtains shut, while it’s dark outside, can make all the difference when it comes to annual costs.” He outlined five simple swaps that will help you beat the April price rise:
1. Use cheaper kitchen appliances – saving £58 per year
The most energy efficient choice is a slow cooker, which costs under 5p per hour to run, versus an oven which costs 60p per hour. Slow cookers have a low wattage, meaning even though it may take a few hours to cook your favourite meal, you will be saving money. An oven may take a total of 45 minutes to heat up and cook a meal, costing you 45p per use, while a slow cooker on for six hours would cost just 29p per use. Over time, choosing a slow cooker could save you up to nearly £60 per year. If you are in a rush, air fryers are another more energy-efficient alternative to ovens and cost around 42p per hour.
2. Only use your dishwasher when necessary – saving £84.24 a year
Your dishwasher consumes a lot of energy and runs for a long period each time it is switched on, making it one of the costliest appliances in the kitchen. The combined energy and water usage for each cycle can cost around 54p. If you are running your dishwasher everyday without filling it completely, you could be wasting money unnecessarily. Cutting back to running your dishwasher four times a week will save you £1.62 per week, or £84.24 every year.
3. Stop overfilling your kettle – saving £10 a year
As one of the most commonly used appliances in the kitchen, kettles contribute to higher energy bills for many households. If you aren’t willing to cut back on the amount of cuppas you sup each day, making sure not to overfill the kettle can help you keep costs down. Filling the kettle with more water than you need could be costing you an additional £10 per year in energy.
4. Stop leaving appliances on standby – saving £79.71 per year
Most households are oblivious to how much appliances left on standby are actually costing them, but in reality, you could save nearly £80 per year just by switching things off after use. The most energy draining appliances are electronic devices such as desktop computers, laptops, gaming consoles and TVs, which are almost always left on standby. Other energy sucking appliances like washing machines, tumble dryers, coffee makers and smart speakers should also be turned off after use to help save on energy costs.
5. Stop leaving curtains open after dark
With shorter nights and darker mornings, Brits choosing to keep blinds and curtains open all evening could be losing money without realising. As soon as the sun sets, make sure to close all curtains and blinds in your home. This will prevent warm air from escaping out of the cold windows. Less energy will then be needed to heat your home in the evenings when your home is at its coldest. Investing in thick, quality curtains can also provide a layer of insulation and help to cut down on energy costs.
