Cash advice
Given current government advice on Coronavirus, which advises everyone in the UK to stay at home, a rise in energy bills might seem inevitable. Here’s how to save energy and keep your bills manageable while in lockdown...
1 SWITCH AND SAVE
If you’re not on a good value tariff, it might be time to switch supplier. Ofgem estimates the average household can save £300 a year by switching gas and electricity supplier. Comparison sites moneysupermarket.com, uswitch.com and simplyswitch.com are all signed up to the Ofgem Confidence Code, so you know the prices they offer are calculated in a fair and unbiased way.
2 LIGHT BULB MOMENT
Making changes to your light bulbs could save you money. It might be worth considering smart bulbs: these use 80 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs. You can control them from your smartphone, meaning you can turn off lights without even touching a switch. Alternatively, simply switching standard bulbs for normal LEDs can also save £35 a year.
3 TURN IT OFF
Sounds simple, but it’s not just turning off lights that can save you money. Energy Saving Trust (EST) says you can save around £30 a year by switching off appliances rather than leaving them on standby. Given home working has increased during the Coronavirus pandemic, this means you could save cash by turning your laptop or computer off every night rather than just closing the lid or leaving it on sleep mode.
4 SMALL STEPS
Saving money doesn’t always mean big changes. EST research found that spending one minute less in the shower each day could save a family of four £75 a year on energy and water. Turning off lights when you’re not in the room can save around £14 a year. To save on water, use a bowl to wash up rather than running a tap, reduce your washing machine by one cycle a week and only fill the kettle with the water you need.
5 KNOW YOUR STUFF
Ofgem has published pandemic advice, on everything from what you need to know about the supply of energy to your home, to what to do if you’re expecting a home visit and self-isolating. If you’re due a meter reading but are self-isolating, your supplier should have alternative arrangements in place to deal with this. Ofgem advises anyone of pensionable age (or the vulnerable) to sign up to the Priority Services Register (ofgem.gov.uk).