Clocking up higher energy bills

Darker evenings and cold weather will mean higher energy bills for many UK residents after the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October. Many energy customers overlook the impact this has on their energy bills so to help consumers manage their energy usage, Ebico, the UK’s only not-for-profit energy company is providing consumers with a simple online tool to help monitor their gas and electricity consumption, which, research shows, could save an average of 15 per cent on household energy bills.

Using a unique online CO2 emissions calculator called imeasure, researchers from the Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute (ECI) have found that an increased awareness of energy usage patterns can lead to significant savings for the consumer. The pilot study, which tracked the energy habits of over 1,500 people over the past eighteen months, discovered that entering meter readings on a weekly basis makes people much more aware of the energy they use and, in turn, more likely to take energy saving measures such as turning off lights and not leaving electrical appliance on standby. This online tool is available to all UK consumers at ebico.imeasure.org.uk/.

Phil Levermore, MD of Ebico commented: “Gas and electricity consumption obviously increases significantly as the clocks change and the evenings start to draw in. This step up in consumption can be quite alarming for some customers as they don’t necessarily consider what the impact of the time shift has on their consumption habits.

“The ECI’s imeasure tool is a simple and effective way for consumers to get to grips with their energy usage as it’s free and easy to use. All the information collected goes towards Oxford University’s wider study into energy consumption, so you can contribute to climate change research simply by sharing your meter readings.”

Ebico was established as a social enterprise in 1998 with all surplus money donated in the pursuit of reducing fuel poverty and tackling climate change by helping householders reduce their carbon footprints. This year the company won the CSR category of the Best Business Awards, which are run by Awards Intelligence, to highlight and reward excellence across the private and public sectors.

Ebico founder and MD, Phil Levermore said: “Our business model is totally unique and we are committed to tackling fuel poverty and climate change through a variety of initiatives. As the company continues to grow, we believe we can make meaningful inroads into tackling fuel poverty across the UK and help to create a low carbon future by encouraging people to cut their energy consumption.”