A third of British bill payers have ‘no idea’ what their total monthly bills come to, according to research.
A poll of 2,000 bill-paying Brits found more than a third (36%) don’t know how much they are paying for electricity, while 46% are unsure how much their monthly outgoings are for gas.
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While a further third didn’t even know exactly how much their phone bill was.
It also emerged that a quarter have direct debits come out of their bank account – but have no idea what they’re for.
A separate study of 1,000 adults with a smart meter installed, found more than a third have recently found themselves checking their usage more than usual, while energy prices remain high.
According to the research, commissioned by Smart Energy GB, 57% said that being able to see their energy use in pounds and pence was the most useful aspect of the smart meter’s in-home display.
Victoria Bacon, director at Smart Energy GB, said: “It is an extremely challenging time for many households at the moment and there are no quick fixes or easy answers, but a smart meter can be a really helpful tool for people wanting to feel a bit more in control, with more visibility on their energy use and avoiding the uncertainties of estimated bills.
“As we can see from our survey, more people are actively using their smart meter and in-home display during this difficult time and many are feeling more in control of their energy use as a result.
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“Nearly half of all energy meters in Great Britain are now smart meters, and 2022 is set to be the year that smart meters outnumber traditional analogue meters.”
The research went on to find almost half use it to monitor how much they have spent over a particular day, week and month.
The early evening is the most popular time to track energy usage for the day, and being able to monitor this data has made 44% feel more in control, and 35% feel more organised.
Almost a quarter of respondents have taken steps to reduce their energy consumption after having a smart meter installed now they are easily able to see how much they are using.
Methods they use to save energy include only boiling the water they need in the kettle, washing clothes at a lower temperature and using a washing up bowl instead of leaving the tap running.
Almost half are now using energy efficient lighting, and a third make sure to not leave devices on charge all night.
Two in 10 have taken steps to improve their home’s insulation, according to the OnePoll research.
Of the wider study of 2,000 adults, 56% believe they could save money each month if they took a closer look at their outgoings.
As a result, half of the adults are planning to use 2022 to get a tighter grip on finances.
It comes as 66% used more energy in 2021 compared to 2020 and more than half are worried about their energy bills this winter.
Victoria added: “Taking steps such as installing a smart meter can give you a bit more control over your bills, as you can keep close tabs on exactly how much energy you are using.
“There’s a lot of really helpful information available on how to use energy more efficiently on the Smart Energy GB website.
“Energy Saving Trust has also come up with a list of tips on how to make your household more energy efficient, which could lead to a potential saving of £248 on your bills.”
As the cost of living crisis continues, some motorists have ditched their car as the price of fuel is unaffordable.
Along with this, one fifth of Brits are rationing electricity and gas to cope with the ongoing price hikes of essentials.
For vulnerable households who need help paying their bills, the Household Support Fund is available until March 31 – check if you can apply.
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