Nearly half of all households are rationing their energy use in some way this winter amid sky-high bills, research has discovered.
A survey by the website MoneySuperMarket found 45% of people questioned have delayed putting their heating on this winter compared to when they started using it last year.
And one in 10 said they have argued with family members about how much heating they use, while a worrying 6% said they felt someone in their household had become ill due to their home not being properly heated.
The findings come with just over two weeks until Ofgem’s price cap increases to an average £1,758 a year for millions of households. While it will be just 0.2% higher this time, bills are a budget-busting 50% more than when the cap was first introduced in 2019.
According to the survey, more than half of households feel the cost of living has become worse for them over the past 12 months, with nearly a third (31%) saying they have needed to make cutbacks and sacrifices.
Laura Hinton, from MoneySuperMarket Energy, said: “With energy bills and everyday costs, such as food, continuing to rise, many households are feeling the pressure this festive season. Our research shows that people are managing how much energy they use by being careful with their heating, using more energy efficient appliances for cooking and having fewer festive lights.
“The good news is there are steps you can take to help with energy costs. If you’re on a standard variable or price-capped tariff, it’s worth checking whether a fixed deal could save you money and give you peace of mind against future price rises. Switching is quick and easy to do online – all you need is your address and email – and some customers could save up to £395, as well as protecting themselves from further increases.”
Another way to keep a track of your real time energy use is having a smart meter. When this type of meter is installed, households are also provided with an in-home display. These let you see your usage in energy units and pounds and pence. And they can help establish which appliances may be the draining the most power
On top of that, the Energy Saving Trust has also put together 12 other ways to help households keep energy bills down this Christmas.
Turn down your boiler flow temperature Lowering your boiler’s flow temperature can improve its efficiency by around 4%, helping to reduce your heating bills without compromising comfort. If you have a combi boiler, setting the flow temperature to about 60°C is ideal, while conventional boilers with a hot water cylinder should stay above 65°C to ensure safe water temperatures. Get a draught excluder for your chimney – save £60 a year Blocking heat from escaping up your chimney with a draught excluder could save you around £60. These cost roughly £25 online and are effective even if your chimney is capped, as they prevent heat loss through the chimney stack itself. Just remember to remove the excluder before lighting a real fire.
Get the most out of your dishwasher and washing machine – save £13 a year Hosting often means more washing up and more laundry. Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine are fully loaded before switching them on and use the ‘eco’ setting if you have one. Most modern detergents are designed to work well at lower temperatures, so washing at 30°C or cooler could save you around £13 a year. Turn down the thermostat when cooking or when people are around If you’re spending more time in the kitchen preparing festive meals, your home is likely already warm enough – so turning your thermostat down by just one degree, from 22°C to 21°C, could save you around £90. The same goes for when you’re hosting guests, as all those extra bodies naturally generate heat. Embrace cosy culture To stay cosy without cranking up the heating, try layering up with thick jumpers and blankets. Most people are comfortable between 18°C and 21°C. Create a festive atmosphere by switching off the main lights and using LED candles instead and for extra warmth, indulge in comforting treats like soups, stews and hot chocolate.
Use your electric oven for batch cooking when hosting If you’re hosting over the festive period, your electric oven could be the best value for money. While ovens generally use more energy to heat up, making them one of the more expensive cooking appliances to run, their larger capacity means you can cook multiple dishes at once. This makes them the best option for batch cooking or preparing meals for a large group. Keep the lids on your pans when cooking on the hob Whether you’re parboiling your potatoes ahead of time or cooking everything on Christmas Day, keep the lids on. Doing this uses around 10% less energy, your food will cook faster and the kitchen will get less steamy too. Clean your oven door and keep it closed One of the easiest ways to waste heat while cooking is by opening the oven door to check on your food. Each time you do, hot air escapes and the oven has to work harder (and use more energy), to get back up to temperature. To avoid this, make sure the oven window is clean so you can keep an eye on your meal without letting any heat out. Switch to LED or solar Christmas lights – save £45 a year If you’re still using older decorations, now’s a great time to switch to energy efficient options and recycle the old ones properly. Replacing all halogen bulbs in your home with LEDs could save you up to £45 a year. Even better, consider solar-powered fairy lights and decorations. They can run on daylight, even in cloudy December weather, helping you cut electricity costs over the festive season. Use a timer for your Christmas lights and switch devices off at the plug – save £45 a year Most modern Christmas lights come with built-in timers that keep them on for around eight hours, reducing energy use and ensuring they come on when they look best, when it’s dark. If yours don’t have a timer, switch them off at the plug before bed. This goes for your appliances too, turning devices off standby all year could save you up to £45 annually.
Let leftovers cool before freezing Festive hosting and Christmas dinners often leaves plenty of leftovers and freezing them is a great way to cut down on food waste. Just make sure the food has cooled completely before putting it in the freezer. This will help your freezer work more efficiently and saves energy. Use rechargeable batteries There’s almost always a Christmas gift that needs batteries, especially toys. Instead of using disposable ones, invest in a battery charger and rechargeable batteries. They cost a bit more upfront, but you’ll save money over time and reduce waste.