THE cost of cooking Christmas dinner will be higher for millions of British households this year due to energy bill hikes.
Energy bills are predicted to be £239 for the average household during December, a £49 increase on last year’s sum.
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That includes a 25 per cent hike to the cost of cooking Christmas dinner, from an estimated £0.83 last year to £1.04 this winter.
The price shocks will affect those on a standard variable tariff, an estimated 11 million UK families.
Research by Forbes Advisor also showed that Christmas Day itself will cost the average household £9 in energy costs.
That figure assumes five hours of boiler and central heating use, 24 hours’ electricity to a fridge, eight hours of outdoor LED Christmas lights, three hours on a games console and five hours of cooking appliance use.
Of course, the cost to you will vary based on your energy tariff, which appliances you use to cook your Christmas dinner and which other appliances are on at the same time.
We’ve asked the researchers which cooking appliances were included in the five hours’ usage sum and will let you know once we do.
Forbes Advisor consumer affairs expert Kevin Pratt advised homeowners invest in a smart thermostat and LEDs to replace traditional light bulbs.
Fitting LEDs throughout a home will cost around £100 but save £35 per year, while turning down your thermostat by just one degree can reduce heating bills by up to £80 a year.
Pratt added: “Insulate where you can – fit draught excluders on doors, including letterboxes and keyholes.
“Don’t block radiators with furniture that will prevent heating the room, and avoid drying clothes on top of them if you can.”
The cost of living crisis has seen inflation rise to its highest rate in a decade, costing the average British household a staggering £21 per week.
Energy bills have seen a particular sting due to the rising price of fuel and wholesale gas.
Dozens of suppliers including Bulb Energy have collapsed under the weight of raised costs, which may prompt higher bills in the long run.
We’ve advised consumers stay with your supplier even if they look like they may collapse.
That’s because the energy price cap will no longer apply if you switch energy firm, making your bills extra vulnerable to price hikes.
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