ENERGY prices have increased across the UK in line with the current Ofgem energy price cap – but there are plenty of ways to cut costs.
The typical household energy bill will now go up by £94 taking the average bill from £1,834 to £1,928 per year.
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The price of electricity has risen from 27.35p per kWh to 28.62p per kWh.
The unit rate for gas has risen from 6.89p per kWh to 7.42p per kWh.
Energy prices are still notably higher than they were two years ago before the ongoing cost of energy crisis began.
However just because prices are going up doesn’t mean there are not loads of ways to keep your bills down.
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Those who use less will still pay less, and those who use more will still pay more.
Experts at Energy Saving Trust have shared their top tips on how to reduce your bill this winter and it could save you £369 a year.
Switching off
Although it may sound obvious, switching off devices you are not using is by far the easiest way of saving energy.
Devices on standby like TVs, consoles and computers may be keeping your energy bills up.
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The Energy Saving Trust reckons you could save an average of £55 a year if you switch these devices off and only turn them on when you are using them.
Likewise, every light in your house adds to your bill, so turn them off when you’re not using them.
Don’t forget to make the most of sunlight during the day for light and warmth by leaving your curtains wide open when you can.
The experts said switching lights off in the rooms you are not in could save you an average of £25 a year.
Combined the two easy hacks could save you £80 a year.
In the kitchen
Appliances you have in the kitchen are amongst those most likely to drain your coffers, but a few small changes could save you around £70 a year.
The experts said: “If you have a dishwasher run it when it’s completely full of dishes and if you can, only do this once a week.”
Energy Saving Trust reckons you could save yourself £14 a year, and don’t forget there’s always the option of washing dishes by hand, but be aware of water bills.
You can also wash your clothes on a low 30-degree wash and try to limit your loads to one per week, which could save you around £29 a year.
As a nation of tea lovers, we’re prone to switching on our kettles quite a lot, but cutting back could save you £36 a year.
While you’re at it consider getting your kitchen sink fitted with a tap aerator, prices for them on Amazon start at just £14.
They are great for controlling water pressure and flow saving you around 30% on your water bills.
Keep the heat in
Whilst there are plenty of things you can do to keep yourself warm this winter like hot water bottles and electric blankets, preventative methods are just as important.
You want to make sure you do everything you can to keep the heat you can inside your home and you could save an extra £210 on your energy bills.
Make sure you draught-proof your doors and windows, window insulation kits are really easy to install and prices start from just £3.50 in B&Q.
If you want to go a step further you can get double glazing but it will cost quite a bit more.
For doors, make sure they are closed to prevent cold airflow in your home.
If you have one that is particularly draughty consider getting a draught excluder.
You can get some for as little as a fiver in most stores but a thick blanket rolled up will work just as well.
Insulation
Insulating your home has never been more important, it’s not cheap but it could save you hundreds in the long run.
Energy Saving Trust has said: “Insulating cavity walls and your loft will cost a typical three-bed semi-detached home around £2,700, with an expected annual saving on energy bills of around £280.”
You also can buy insulation from all local builder merchants or retailers such as B&Q and Wickes.
What energy bill help can I get this winter?
Thousands of households are due £25 in free cash after cold weather payments were triggered in hundreds of postcodes.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) hands out the free cash to help support hard-up Brits during cold spells.
Eligible households get the cash paid directly into their bank accounts within 14 days.
The cold weather payments are made in locations where residents experience continuous below-zero weather.
Households can get £25 during each seven-day period of low temperatures from November until March 31.
Cold weather payments were triggered in almost 300 postcodes in November – meaning that thousands of households are owed cash.
Plus, millions are due up to £600 in winter fuel payments.
You should have received yours by January 26, 2024 at the latest.
If you haven’t received your payment by then, you need to call the office that pays your benefits, details can be found in the letters they have sent you.
And if you’re found to be ineligible for the winter fuel payment but want to challenge that decision, there’s a government form for that, too.
Millions on benefits will also receive the final £299 cost of living payment in February.
Additional support is also offered by councils in the UK through the Household Support Fund.
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