Consumer expert Alice Beer shared some valuable advice on how to save money on your energy bills, including the best time of day to put a wash on
This Morning’s consumer expert Alice Beer has offered some top-notch advice on how to slash energy bills amidst rising costs.
Speaking on the ITV show, Alice urged: “Never, ever do half loads [on the washing machine]. One full load is much less energy than two half loads, that’s obvious.” With a recent 10 per cent hike in the Energy Price Cap effective from October 1, 2024, households may now face annual charges of up to £1,717 for their gas and electricity. That’s a significant rise from the previous cap of £1,568 which spanned from July 1 to September 30, 2024.
“EDF Energy are signalling there could be another increase in January, hitting pockets hard in the chilly winter months. In light of soaring energy costs, revisiting the savvy tips from Alice last year could help consumers cut down on expenses, reports the Express. From her arsenal of energy-saving strategies, Alice suggested: “Think about what you’re using in the kitchen… it’s more efficient to use a dishwasher than washing up by hand – especially if you keep a tap running.”
She also provided a tip for tea-lovers: “The kettle… it honestly saves you money and helps the UK’s electricity supply if you’re just boiling the amount of water you need.” Alice continued with her cost-cutting guidance: “Think about using the microwave instead of using a cooker when you can – much cheaper to use a microwave.” Lastly, Alice touched upon the potential benefits of an off-peak tariff, saying: “Look at how that works for you. We should all be thinking of using a lot less energy in that peak period [which is] 6pm to 8pm at night.”
Alice probed with a potential fix for timing woes, saying: “Can you switch to having your meal a bit earlier or later perhaps? Using the dishwasher between 6pm to 8pm is a no-go.” Sharing her wisdom on cutting down water use and bill costs, Alice advised: “There are different thermostatic controls that you should have a look at.”
Pointing out common mistakes in temperature settings, she revealed: “The first one is the one that is usually in your hall and it’s a dial. One in five have got that set at 22 degrees – that’s Lanzarote temperatures! “. She highlighted how turning down the habitual setting from 22 to 18 degrees would be far more efficient and cost-effective.
In terms of radiators, she instructed: “The second thermostatic control is on your radiators, if you’ve got a valve on your radiator you need to be controlling that to get to the right temperature.” Emphasising energy conservation, Alice urged: “Most importantly, you need to turn that right off if you’re not using a room – spare room, dining room, any room that you don’t use very often, turn the valve off.”
