CUTTING back on your energy use can help save money on your bill.
But it doesn’t mean sitting in the dark or cold, as simple steps can add up to big savings worth hundreds of pounds a year.
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Changing the setting on your thermostat is one way to slash your energy bill.
And energy experts have revealed the exact temperature to set it at so that you can save cash and stay warm.
With the energy price cap rising on April 1 by 54%, its pushed up bills for millions of households.
The typical dual fuel bill for standard tariffs is now nearly £2,000, up by £700, although the exact amount you pay will depend on your usage.
So reducing your gas and electric use is one way to cut down your bill, as there are no longer cheaper tariffs than the price-capped default ones.
When it comes to your thermostat, Energy Saving Trust recommends you should set it to the “lowest comfortable temperature”.
And for most of us this is between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.
It’s just the right balance between keeping your home warm, and keeping those energy bills as low as possible.
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If you have your thermostat set at higher temperature, then you can probably afford to turn it down and remain cosy.
There may be exceptions for anyone who is in ill health, and there is help to cover extra costs.
In fact turning down the temp by just a single degree could save you as much as £100 a year on your bill.
And if you reduce it my more you stand to make even bigger savings.
Experts at Uswitch found that the temperature inside a fifth of UK homes is hotter than Lanzarote over winter, and more than a million properties are heated to 25°C or more – hotter than Sydney, Australia.
If you’re at the higher end of the perfect 18-21 degree temperature scale, then you could still try reducing it by a degree or even two to find savings.
With the weather getting a little warmer as we head into spring, you might not even notice.
Energy Saving trust also say that you don’t need to turn your thermostat up when it is colder outside, the house will still heat up to the set temperature.
“It may take a little longer on colder days, so you might want to set your heating to come on earlier in the winter,” it said.
If you’re still on full winter heating mode it might be time to review your settings.
Experts have also revealed the exact date you need to turn your heating off as Spring approaches.
While Sunday, March 27 is the date, a spell of cold weather means many of us will likely still have it on.
But turning the temp down, even by a single degree is one way to save. You could also reduce the amount of time you have the heating on.
Experts at EnergyHelpline previously told The Sun: “The best advice is to consider if you still need your heating to come on for the same number of hours each month, and reduce how often it is on as we move through spring.
“From April 1, households with a typical 24 kilowatt boiler will pay £1.68 for every hour they use their boiler, which is then how much you’d save for each hour less that you have your boiler on for.”
Here’s more top tips for reducing your energy bill, plus extra help you can get if you’re struggling with bills.
Top tips for saving hundreds on your energy bill
Making sure your home is insulated can help reduce energy bills.
You can evaluate all the waste energy lost room by room in your house, and you might be able to switch something off or plug a draughty gap.
Energy saving devices could help lower your bill, like smart lightbulbs or an airfryer.
We spoke to one man who used smart radiator valves to reduce their energy consumption, helping cut his bill by £220 a year.
Showering at a specific time could save energy, as could other water saving measures.
Martin Lewis revealed that you could save £100 a year by turning off your router overnight.
In fact, switching off “vampire” appliances that are using energy unnecessarily – like computers, outdoor lights, and electric towel rails – could save you up to hundreds of pounds a year.
Tricks like putting cling film over your windows and foil behind your radiator cost as little as 6p but could save you hundreds.
We spoke to one woman who saves £400 a year on her energy bills by bubble wrapping her curtains and cooking at night.
Here’s 44 ways to cut your energy bills NOW.
Energy bill help: what you can get and how to apply
If you’re worried about paying your energy bill, you should speak to your supplier in the first instance as they have schemes in place to help with bills and arrears.
Energy companies offer hardship funds, for example you can get £750 from British Gas if you’re a customer.
Your local council may also be able to help with cash and grants if you are struggling with bills through the Household Support Scheme.
The winter fuel payment scheme, where those getting the state pension can get between £100 and £300 to offset the cost of keeping their homes warm, though this is now closed until next winter.
Low income households can get £25 a week to help with energy bills during the winter thanks to the cold weather payment scheme too.
This closed on March 31 but here are the postcodes which qualified for payments.
The warm home discount scheme means you can a £140 payment that goes toward your heating costs – but this has now closed until next winter too.
Millions of households are getting a £150 council tax rebate – see if you’re eligible and when you’ll get the cash in April.
Every billpayer will get a £200 rebate on their bill in October – Martin Lewis has explained how the scheme works.
There are around 8,000 charities and organisations in the UK that offer cash to help struggling families, including bills.
Turn2Us has a free grants search tool so you can find out what help is available to you.
It’s also worth checking you’re getting all the benefit’s you’re entitled to, as millions are thought to be missing out.
You can use a benefits checker to see how much you might get:
You could be eligible for a budgeting loan if you’ve been on certain benefits for six months.
But while this can help cover some costs like if your boiler breaks down and you need to replace it, or you need to buy new energy appliances, like a washing machine or tumble dryer, you will need to pay the money back.
So check the other non-repayable help you could get first.
If you’re worried about falling behind on bills, there are plenty of organisations where you can get advice for free, including:
