Simple changes to save on your energy bills

by | Sep 15, 2023 | Uncategorised

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..  

Please note our services will be reduced across Bury & Bolton from 1pm Monday 23rd December 2024 and will resume as normal on Thursday 2nd January 2025. See below ways we can support you during this period:

We will be actioning online referrals on 24th, 27th, 30th and 31st December

This service will be available 6pm to 9pm on: 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th December 2024

Emergency contact details for local authorities are:

Bury – https://www.bury.gov.uk/emergencies/emergency-contact-numbers

Bolton – https://www.bolton.gov.uk/council/emergency-contacts

Call our Help Through Hardship line on 0808 208 2138, this line is open 9am-5pm on 24th, 27th, 30th, 31st December

Additional resources for 24/7 self-help advice are also available on

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

The National Domestic Abuse helpline is open 24 hours a day and can be contacted on 0808 2000 247. If you’re in an emergency situation you should call 999

National Debt Line Debt helpline: 0800 240 4420

Relay UK – if you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 240 4420

You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.

This time of year can be hard. But there’s support available if you need it.

The Samaritans is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can be contacted on 116 123 or by email.

Switchboard is a helpline for LGBT+ people and is open 10am until 10pm everyday. You can call them on 0800 0119 100 or use their online chat.

Shout 85258 is a 24 hours a day text service which offers mental health support. You can contact them by texting SHOUT to 85258.

The Silver Line — a helpline for older people ran by Age UK. Call 0800 4 70 80 90 24hrs a day

NSPCC Helpline — if you’re worried about a child. Call 0808 800 5000 (Mon-Fri 10am-8pm)

Power cut 105 — if you have a power cut Call 105 24hrs a day

National Gambling Helpline Call 0808 8020 133 24 hours a day

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