THEY may make your garden look twinkly in the summer, but outdoor lights could be adding £125 to your energy bills.
Millions of households are looking at ways of slashing their energy bills as prices soar.
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Ofgem’s boss warned that the price cap could rocket to somewhere “in the region of £2,800” in October, adding a further £830 to bills.
It comes as another crippling blow to budgets, as six million households are in debt with their supplier by an average of £188.
You might want to reconsider whether you really need to switch on the outdoor lights outside as prices spike – we explain why.
How much does it cost to run outdoor lights?
Outdoor lights can come in handy for when your BBQ runs into the night – but it could be costing you a small fortune.
Keeping just two 60watt outside lights on for 10 hours a night could add £125 a year to your energy bills, according to energy expert Loop.
It may not seem much, but on top of all the energy used by your household appliances, it can all add up.
How to avoid a £125 bill blow
f you are buying lights, try to choose an energy efficient option.
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One alternative is to consider solar powered lights, which soak up the sun’s energy through the day and use that to run once it gets dark.
It means that the lights won’t be drawing as much electricity from the mains to run – and will lower your bills.
You could also try ditching your lights entirely.
If you have a fire pit, you can light a fire – which won’t be using any energy, and will keep you warm too.
What other garden appliances are driving up my bills?
One of the biggest energy guzzling appliances you’ll find in your garden is a hot tub.
Loop estimates that some of the least energy efficient models – which are often the cheapest ones – could add a whopping £300 per month to electricity bills.
If you’re firing up the grill, you might be tempted to plug in that extra fridge to keep the food and drinks chilled.
But Loop said an unused extra fridge could cost £99 a year to leave on.
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