With another winter of high energy bills ahead, small changes can make a big difference when it comes to saving energy and lowering your costs.
We’re sharing our advice on getting help if you’re struggling with energy bills, plus tips on how to cut energy costs around the home. You can make simple changes to save money on your energy bills now – and don’t need to wait until the colder months to do so.
These include:
- Washing clothes at 30°C could save around £15 per year – and reducing the number of wash cycles by one per week could save a further £15
- Reducing shower time to four minutes could save a typical household as much as £75 a year
- Swapping one bath a week for a four-minute shower could save an average of £17 a year.
- Avoiding overfilling the kettle could save around £12 a year on electricity
- Draught-proofing windows and doors will help your home feel warmer and could save around £50 a year on bills.
- Turning appliances off at the wall/plug when you’re not using them could save an average of £60 a year.
- Turning the thermostat down by 1°C could save around £115 a year.
Check you’re getting all the support you’re entitled to
Lifestyle changes won’t be possible for everyone and may not be enough to cover the hole in household budgets caused by higher prices, so it’s worth checking you’re getting all the support you’re entitled to.
This could include:
- Checking what benefits you’re entitled to by using a benefits calculator
- Warm Home Discount — a £150 annual discount if you get certain benefits
- Cold weather payments — payments if you get certain benefits and the weather is extremely cold
- Grants from your energy supplier — to help you pay off debts you may owe
For more information, visit the Citizens Advice website.
If you owe money to your energy supplier, you should speak to them as soon as possible. They’re responsible for helping you find a way to pay your bills.
At Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton, tailored energy advice is available. Our energy advice project, in partnership with AgeUK Bury and AgeUK Bolton, launched earlier this year. To access, pop into our offices in Bury or Bolton or complete this self-referral form and we’ll contact you directly..