HOUSEHOLDS will be looking for ways to cut costs now that energy bills could rocket to £5,000 a year from April.
Energy bills were initially set to be frozen at £2,500 for the typical household for two years, but the Energy Price Guarantee will now only last until April.
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And it could mean that millions will see their energy bills soar next spring.
Consultancy firm Auxilione forecasts average bills could hit £5,078 and RBC Capital Markets predicts £4,684 a year.
But the government has confirmed new support will be targeted to help hard-up households, although details of this remain unclear.
It means that many may simply not be able to afford to pay their way – with some struggling to pay for food because of the costs.
Because of soaring bills, you’ll be wanting to know how you can save money.
Every penny counts at the moment with the cost of living rising.
The bill rise will hit 24million households, with four million of those on prepayment meters.
And you might not know this, but some household appliances are driving up your bills – and you could save yourself hundreds by making some simple tweaks to the way you’re using them.
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Below are the five energy-guzzling household appliances that could be adding £336 to your bills in total, according to Currys.
‘Wet’ appliances
Appliances which use water to work – like washing machines and dishwashers – account for 25% of the total average household’s electricity bill.
But speaking to the Express, Currys group carbon and environment manager Matt Manning said to switch them to eco-setting to save cash.
“A lot of people don’t realise their appliances have this function so it’s always worth checking the front of your machine,” he said.
It’s not the only way you can cut costs.
Setting your washing machine to a high-speed spin can save you £40 a year.
Reducing your washing machine temperature by 30°C and doing one less load per week could slash your bills by a further £35 a year, according to Energy Saving Trust.
While ditching the dishwasher and washing up by hand could help you save money considering it costs £110.76 to use one per year, based on if you’re using it three times a week.
TVs and games consoles
It’s so easy to forget to switch off the telly or your games console in the evening.
But it can mean that it’s eating up a whopping 19% of your total electricity bill.
Switching them off properly at the switch and not leaving them on standby means that you could save £65 a year, according to Energy Saving Trust.
An extra £145 can be added on top of this if you’re choosing energy-efficient gadgets when you’re upgrading, Mr Manning said.
Cooking appliances
We all love a cuppa – but our love of brews could be costing us a small fortune.
Kettles – along with other kitchen appliances like cookers and blenders – account for 19% of the average home’s energy use.
Again, switching them off properly could help you save cash.
There are other ways to drive down your bill as well.
For example, overfilling your kettle could be adding £72 to your bill annually.
Only fill it up with as much water as you actually need.
‘Cold’ appliances
Appliances which use energy to cool things – like fridges and freezers – could be proving to be expensive too.
They total around 16% of the total average household’s electricity bill.
The reason why they could be driving up your bills is that they are not working efficiently.
Failing to defrost it could be adding on an extra £150 a year, and gaps in the doors could be costing you money too.
Lighting
The wrong type of lighting could be costing you £9 a bulb, according to Mr Manning.
Switching to LED lights will soon mean the savings you make rack up.
Make sure to keep the lights switched off when you don’t need them.
Finding ways to cut costs is important as lighting accounts for 19% of the average household’s electricity usage.
How can I get help with my energy bills?
From September the second, one million people receiving tax credits will receive the first half of the £650 cost of living payment.
The money will be paid in the same way you usually get your tax credits.
And from September 20, over six million people with disabilities are set to receive £150 to help with the rising cost of living.
From October the first, all UK households are set to receive the £400 energy bills rebate.
The payment will be made up of six discounts between October and March next year.
Households will receive a £66 energy bill discount in October and November and a discount worth £67 in December, January, February and March.
We’ve listed how the leading energy suppliers plan to pay households the discount and are waiting on others to respond.
The way you’ll be paid will depend on how you pay for your energy.
In November, a £300 one-off “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” will be paid out to eight million households.
It will be given to those who already get the winter fuel payment – which is worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
Payments for the £150 Warm Home Discount scheme will likely begin from December.
You might also want to think about insulating your home as well – this could save you £315 a year.
Turning the thermostat down by at just one degree can save a whopping £127.70 a year, according to energy experts at USwitch.
