Savvy savers slash energy bills by jumping online
With the "Deep Freeze" sending chills through households in the UK, moneysupermarket.com warns British bill payers they will use around 40 per cent of their annual energy consumption over the winter months.
Analysis from the UK's leading price comparison site found a customer on a standard tariff, paying an average £1,232 a year by quarterly cash and cheque (QCC), could face a whopping bill of £493 next month - crippling for any unsuspecting household in the wake of an expensive festive season. But, by swapping to the best available online deal, and paying by monthly direct debit, annual energy consumption would come in at £934 a year, a saving of £299, or 24 per cent off your annual bill.
Scott Byrom, utilities manager at moneysupermarket.com said: "Brits will be brought back down to earth with a bump this New Year when a huge energy bill lands on their doorstep. Many bill payers will have cranked up the heating in their homes during the "Deep Freeze" - the National Grid reports demand for gas in the UK has hit record levels as people keep their homes warm - and will soon be hit with unexpectedly high energy bills, an expensive way to top off this costly period.
"I advise any customers languishing on their provider's standard deal, whether worried about post-New Year bills or not, to swap to a monthly direct debit scheme and manage their account online - a standard QCC customer could save an average £299 a year - an easy move to make and something cash strapped Brits should seriously think about."
According to a recent poll of moneysupermarket.com users, two in five (41 per cent) people are taking energy efficiency measures in their homes and a further 39 per cent of people would do more for their home's energy efficiency with the help of financial assistance, yet one in five (19 per cent) people say they cannot make homes more energy efficient, either because they cannot afford to or are simply not interested.
Scott Byrom said: "A few simple energy efficiency measures can make a big difference to your consumption and help to save you a significant amount, and they don't have to be expensive. The Government boiler scrappage scheme for example means people could see a significant cut to the price of a new boiler, and furthermore British Gas is matching the £400 allowance set by the Government enabling customers to get £800 off the cost of a new boiler, a move which followed npower's pledge last year to provide £400 for those with boilers up to a c-rating. Customers with a G-rated boiler can get £800 towards a new boiler with British Gas or npower and those with an E to C-rating boiler can receive £400 with npower.
"For those looking to save money on their energy bills, I would advise shopping around to ensure you are on the correct tariff for your usage and region. Moving online to a dual fuel direct debit deal is the easiest way to make savings, and will ensure your hard earned pennies don't go to waste. Making your home as energy efficient as possible will also go a long way to cutting the cost of your bills this year."
moneysupermarket.com's top tips to minimise your gas and electricity bills:
Turn your thermostat down - now. By reducing your room temperature by just 1°C you could save an astonishing 10% on your annual heating bills.
Switch off and save. Don't leave electrical appliances on standby as it still uses power. Make it a nightly ritual to ensure all lights and appliances are off and watch those savings mount. For example, leaving your computer on 'sleep' means it is still using 75% of its energy.
Almost 25% of heat is lost via poorly insulated roofs. Invest in insulation - it is cheap and effective. What is more, many free grants are available from local councils for pensioners and those on low incomes.
Heating the whole house is justifiable for a large family but for working couples and singles, it is more cost-effective to heat only the rooms you use most. Invest in a low energy heater.
In the winter months, it pays to close all your curtains as soon as dusk sets - they keep the heat in and are one of the simplest and easiest ways of cutting back on heating bills.
Change to energy saving light bulbs. You can save up to £40 over the lifetime of the bulb.
Invest in a microwave oven. They are fast and efficient particularly for small families and singles and use a fraction of the energy of a conventional gas or electric cooker.
Watch out for draughts around doors (keyholes, letter boxes, gaps in doors and windows). Heat escaping your home is money wasted, so get yourself kitted out. Draught excluder packs are available from most DIY stores and for as little as £60. It is estimated that good draught exclusion around an average terrace can save as much as £25 a year, so it will soon pay for itself.
Double-glazing is pricey to install but will make a difference to bills over time. Heat loss through windows is cut by a whopping 50% - saving around £100 a year on bills.
Don't fill your kettle each time you go to make a coffee or cup of tea - only use the water you need. It will be quicker to boil and use less energy. It's a simple tip but makes a difference.
Take showers and not baths. While a hot bubble bath may feel like a treat, the cost of heating the water soon mounts up. A shower uses around a third of the water of a bath.
If you use a washing machine turn the temperature down to 30°C. Today's washing powders are so efficient they do not need to be used at high temperatures. Even better, get into the habit of hand-washing and just using your machine's spin function. It saves both time and money.