The average household is in debt to its energy supplier, owing over £1,000 – and people have been urged to ensure they’re signed onto the best deal possible.
Gas and electricity bills have seen a 10% increase from October 1 after regulator Ofgem raised the energy cap to £1,717 a year, with another hike expected in January. This comes as an additional blow to millions of pensioners who have lost their Winter Fuel Payment due to Labour’s policies.
Greg Marsh, CEO of household bill website Nous. co, expressed his concern: “Worryingly, more households than ever are in debt to their energy supplier, owing more than £1,000 on average even before winter gets going.” He suggested that those paying by direct debit should check if they’ve accumulated credit over the summer.
“If you’re in debt now, your monthly payments are set too low and you risk building up even more debt over the winter.”
As a general guideline, by November, you should have credit worth at least one monthly payment. Marsh also pointed out that direct debit remains the cheapest way to pay for gas and electricity, stating: “Paying by cash or cheque costs around £100 a year more.”, reports the Express.
When numerous smaller energy suppliers collapsed during the energy shock, switching became impossible.
However, as suppliers start competing for new customers again, Marsh encouraged people to shop around for a better deal, with potential savings of around £150. Money-saving expert Gemma Bird, also known as The Money Mum, suggested that a few affordable hacks can enhance your home’s energy efficiency.
Heat can easily slip away through gaps in doors, windows, and other openings, leaving you battling to keep rooms cosy and your heating bills high. Bird has given us the scoop on snagging Diall White self-adhesive draught excluders from B&Q. At a mere £9.97, she raves, “Stick them along door bottoms, window frames or anywhere you feel a draught. They don’t leave any marks.”
A quick nip into your nearest B&Q or tap onto their website DIY.com should do the trick! On top of that, Bird recommends grabbing a smart plug for wrangling those power-guzzling gadgets like lights, TVs, and sound systems that loiter in standby mode. She shares, “It’s a small, affordable tech upgrade that can make a difference to energy bills.”
This nifty gadget is none other than the TCP Smart Plug 240V, priced at an accessible £15, Bird reveals. It grants you the power to control your devices straight from your mobile that includes everyday appliances to Christmas tree twinklers and the telly all without a fuss to set up.
Bird’s even got a tip for battening down the hatches against draughty doors with a makeshift curtain, using an extendable curtain pole you can nab for around £17. “The pole can be moved from room-to-room or taken down without any damage and reused next year,” she advises.
Not to forget laundry Bird proposes ditching your pricey tumble dryer in favour of a heated clothes airer for winter wear-drying. As she points out, “Tumble dryers are the costliest home appliance. A heated airer is a more efficient way to dry clothes during winter.” Adopting this savvy suggestion could see the pennies piling up into pounds before you know it.
The Addis Aluminium and Plastic Heated Airer, available at B&Q for £45, is a steal when you consider it costs approximately 6p per hour to run. In contrast, the expenses associated with running a tumble dryer are a surprising 75p per hour. Bird recommended pairing the heated airer with a portable dehumidifier to hasten the drying process: “It will pull moisture from the air, helping clothes dry faster.”
Utilising a dehumidifier also wards off window condensation, along with mold and mildew. The TCP 12L Smart Dehumidifier Ultra Quiet can be bought starting from £99 and only sets you back 5p an hour to run.
Energy saving specialist Ed Fleming from Savoo has put forth the idea of carrying out power-guzzling chores at times when costs dip: “Using the tumble dryer at night saves money as energy costs drop due to lower demand. Washing clothes at 20 degrees is almost two thirds cheaper than washing at 40 degrees.”
Dave Lines, an expert on heating from HomeHow.co.uk, suggests rather than warming your whole abode, centre attention on the rooms you’re in most: “Use thermostats or radiator valves to control the temperature in specific areas.” He advises capitalising on natural warmth sources such as sunlight, as per Lines: “Open your curtains during the day and allow warmth to enter your home. At night, close them to prevent heat loss through the windows.”
Lines added that smart thermostats are beneficial to programme heating routines, modify temperatures, and maximise energy efficiency: “Regular boiler servicing and bleeding radiators can boost heating efficiency, while radiator reflectors direct heat back into the room, rather than being absorbed by the wall.”
