subject: Energy Price Increase [print this page] Energy Price Increase Energy Price Increase
The energy companies have made it clear that we are on the brink of yet another hike in energy prices and this coupled with the colder weather conditions we can expect as winter steadily approaches will leave many seriously out of pocket.
Worse than this, energy companies have also warned that price increases will become common place as fuel sources run ever lower. So for those of us who want to keep our Gas and Electricity costs down, it's time to take action.
If you need some ideas of how to keep your gas and electricity bills down, look no further. Here are our five quick tips for keeping your energy bills under control.
Tip 1: Shop Around for a new supplier
It's obvious that by shopping around you may be able to find a cheaper energy supplier, but many people avoid doing so because they believe that its time consuming or just not worth it. In fact, with the rise of energy supplier comparison websites, it's never been easier and you could save up to 450 a year.
Tip 2: Choosing energy efficient appliances
Washing machines, Dryers, Fridge Freezers etc all have energy efficiency ratings ranging from A to C which refer to how much energy the appliance consumes. By making sure that your compliances are energy efficient you could save a significant amount in the long run. In fact, each energy efficient appliance that replaces an old appliance could save you up to 45 a year
Tip 3: Make some small changes around your home
Insulate your home properly to stop the heat escaping and you will quickly find that you use much less energy to heat it up, 15% less to be exact. This alone could save you 150 a year
Consider energy saving light bulbs and you could be looking at a further saving of 120 (This is based upon the average home which has 17 lights)
Turn your thermostat down by even 1 degree centigrade and you could shave a further 10% off your energy bill
Make sure your fridge is at is at the very least an inch away from the wall to prevent your fridge having to over- work to stay cool. This too will save you a little bit of money each year. It may not be a vast saving, but its money in your pocket instead of the energy company's and it will take you less than five minutes to do.
Tip 4: Make some changes to the way you think
Don't leave your appliances on standby, they still use up to 70% of the energy they use when they are fully operational
Don't use dishwashers, washing machines or dryers when they are only half full. These appliances in particular use a significant amount of energy and should be used only when necessary
Understanding which appliances use the most energy is half the battle so here's a list of them in order of their energy consumption:
Fridges & Freezers = 18% of your monthly electricity bill
Cooking Appliances = 15% of your monthly electricity bill
Washing Machines, Tumble Dryers & Dish Washers = 14% of your monthly electricity bill
Tip 5: Put some energy into saving more
It's so easy to do nothing. No doubt you work hard and have other things to do with your time, but if you just put a little energy into cutting your gas and electricity bills down and you could save hundreds of pounds a year.
If you want to review the rest of your finances why not talk to an Independent Financial Adviser.
