Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
How to Cut Your Winter Energy Bills
Annie
30th Sep 2024
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Winter energy bills always start creeping up from around October until April, as the heating goes on more, tumble dryers replace air drying on a line, and we spend more time indoors on dark nights. Keeping the costs down is something we’re all looking to do, so we’ve created this handy guide with Uswitch for energy saving tips to reduce your winter energy bills this year.
Improve Your Home’s Heat Retention
Double Your Power with Battery Devices
Improve Your Home’s Heat Retention
A few small changes can make a difference to how much heat is lost from your home. Removing draughts and improving insulation is really straightforward and cheap to do, but will save on your bills every winter as the heat stays in your home instead of wafting away from it!
1. Hang thermal curtains
You don’t need to get rid of your existing curtains, but instead buy thermal curtains and either hang them behind your existing ones or sew them to the lining for a neater look. This will keep the heat in during winter – and help keep the heat out during summer, too.
2. Use draught excluders
Stuff an old pillowcase with the endless plastic carrier bags we know you’ve got stuffed under the sink! You can also use draught tape around doors and windows to help prevent the wind getting in.
3. Consider thermal window film
If you don’t have double glazing, thermal window film can help improve the insulation of your windows. It can be expensive though, so if you don’t mind how the window looks you can also use bubble wrap! Cut to size of the window pane and spray some water on the window. Apply with the bubbles facing the window, as this traps the air and creates a thermal barrier.
4. Look for energy grants
Some homeowners and tenants might be eligible for home improvement grants to improve the heat efficiency of their property. Local authorities may have grants to improve your home’s insulation, change an old boiler, or install air pumps. The Government also sometimes run schemes like the Boiler Upgrade program, so check Gov.uk for help.
Switch and Fix Your Tariff
When was the last time you shopped around for your energy supplier? Most people will keep the same supplier from when they move in, not realising they might be able to save hundreds of pounds a year. This is especially true for households with previously fixed tariffs that have ended, and may have been migrated to a higher rolling tariff – or those who have just moved house and have the legacy of the previous owner’s supplier to deal with.
Use a comparison service like Uswitch to check out available tariffs from each supplier. You’ll be able to compare them to find out if you can save money.
The price cap goes up again in October 2024 from £1,568 to £1,717, and there’s no guarantee it won’t rise again in the future either – prices will likely stay high throughout winter. Fixing a tariff for at least twelve months will give you some peace of mind over the fluctuating cap and energy prices.
Finding the Best Energy Prices
When you compare energy prices and suppliers with a service like Uswitch, make sure you have the most detailed information you can. For example, find out your annual usage by finding a bill from a year ago and your most recent bill. Take the meter reading from the old one away from the new one, and that’s how many kWh you’ve used in the last year.
Having an accurate picture like this will make sure the options you’re presented with are as accurate as possible.
Also, think about whether you want to stay in your property for the next year or if there’s a chance you might move. This is because some tariffs have exit rates if you leave within a certain period of time, and people don’t always move their supplier to their new house. So, if you’re moving, weigh up the exit fee against the annual savings to see if you should fix your tariff and be prepared to pay the fee if you move, or if opting for a slightly higher tariff will end up cheaper overall if you don’t need to pay an exit fee.
Check the Standing Charge Rate
When you’re comparing prices to find the best energy tariff for your needs, remember to take into account the standing charge cost. This might seem a lot higher than others, but the unit rate is lower – or the other way around. Which one suits you better all depends on the energy you use, so do your sums.
If you’re switching energy supplier for a second home or an empty property you’re trying to sell, a lower standing charge is usually the better option. This is because the unit rate will be high but you won’t use much energy if the house is empty all or most of the time.
If you’re switching for your main home, a higher standing charge with lower unit rate could be beneficial for those who use a lot of energy, such as families or people who work from home.
Check for Electric Car Tariffs
Our final tip for finding the best energy tariff to switch to is to look for specific electric car rates, if you have an electric vehicle. This is because some suppliers offer unique tariffs that allow you to charge at a cheaper rate during the night, specifically for your EV charger. This could save you hundreds of pounds across the year.
Make the Most of Night Rates
Some people will have Economy 10 meters, which use a day rate and a night rate. The night rate is much cheaper than the day – but the hours are limiting, usually between midnight and 6am.
If you have one of these meters and a two-rate tariff, make the most of the night rate. If it won’t disturb people (such as if you’re in a detached house with a utility room) put your laundry on a timer to run at night. Set the dishwasher to run in the early hours. And for those with a hot water tank, time your heating for the cheap rate to save on hot water.
Double Your Power with Battery and Rechargeable Devices
While we’re on savvy energy usage, if you have a cheaper night rate make sure that’s the time you charge devices like laptops and mobile phones. Many people also charge power banks on their cheaper rate, so they can minimise the use of chargers for electronic devices during the daytime. (And, if you’re out and about during the day, charge your phone at the office or while you commute on the train!).
But anybody can also make the most of charging their devices and then using the battery time. It’s so easy to constantly keep your laptop or tablet plugged in even when it’s fully charged, so you’re wasting energy. When the battery is full, disconnect the charger and use the device until the battery is in the red. It’s healthier for the battery AND your bank balance.
Use plug-in timers, too. Many of us will leave something to charge for several hours when it only needs a couple. Reduce your energy usage by setting a timer for your chargers.
Use Auto-On LED Lights
Do you have a porch light that you always forget to turn off? Perhaps you need a lamp for your pantry or wardrobe. Battery-powered LED lights are cheap and efficient, and can be put anywhere. They can be set to automatically turn on when they detect movement, which saves the battery and also stops you from accidentally leaving lights on everywhere.
A common use is to have one in the bathroom, so that if you have to get up in the night you don’t switch on a noisy fan with the main light. They’re also useful for porches, cupboards, and under kitchen cabinets for some extra lighting.
Reduce Tumble Drying Time
Tumble dryers are incredibly useful in winter months as the weather gets too wet and cold to air dry clothes outside. However, they absolutely eat energy!
Make sure you don’t overload your tumble when you do use it, as this extends the time you need to get everything dry.
You should also run your laundry on an extra spin cycle in the washing machine (most have a ten-minute quick spin option). This significantly reduces the amount of moisture in clothes, which reduces the time required to dry them.
You could also switch entirely to a heated airer instead. A tumble dryer costs around 40p to run per hour compared to a heated airer around 17p, and it’s also much more gentle on your clothes.
Turn the Heat Down
Yes, you’ve heard it before – but it really can make a difference! Turning down the thermostat by just a couple of degrees can make a significant dent in your energy bills. Pop on some socks and slippers, wear layers, and use that hot water bottle you have forgotten about in the back of the wardrobe.
You can also set timers for your heating to make sure it is on at the most efficient times. For example, in deep winter we all like waking to a warm house – but if you then all leave to go to work, there’s no need for it to be on. If you wake at 6am to leave by 8am, set the heating to come on at 5.45am and off at 7.45am. The same goes for the evenings – you can set the house to warm at chosen hours, but reduce the temperature or turn it off while you’re sleeping.
Apply for Discounts
If you’re a low income household you could claim the Warm Home Discount. Check with your supplier to find out if you’re eligible. If so, £140 credit is added to your account by March of each year (applications open in October) to help with the cost of winter energy bills.
For those over State Pension age, despite all the furore in the news recently, there are many who can still claim the Winter Fuel Payment, which is either £200 or £300 towards fuel bills.
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