MILLIONS of households have seen their energy bills rise after the government’s rebate scheme came to an end last month.
The energy price guarantee brought in by the government means that a typical household pays no more than £2,500 a year for their gas and electricity.
GettyWashing and drying your clothes at night could save you cash[/caption]
The guarantee had been due to increase to £3,000 a year in April, but it will remain at £2,500 until July, at which point it’s hoped that energy prices will have started to come down.
But because all households had been receiving a £66-67 a month discount between October and March, energy bills were slightly cheaper for a typical household than they are now.
Customers now face higher bills because this rebate scheme ended last month.
But if you are worried about rising costs, there are ways to reduce your outgoings.
Usually, the cost of gas and electricity doesn’t change depending on the time of day, so there’s no incentive to use a washing machine or tumble dryer at off-peak times.
But there are certain tariffs where you can pay less depending on the time of day.
They’re called Economy 7 or 10 tariffs and charge you for your electricity usage based on off-peak and on-peak rates.
The off-peak rate usually applies for seven or 10 hours of the night and the on-peak rate for the other 14 or 17 hours.
We previously revealed how these time-of-use tariffs can slash your bills by as much as £120 a year.
Plus, a number of suppliers are now taking part in the “demand flexibility service” that started in November and is being run until March.
Under the scheme, households will be paid to use their appliances at specific times to prevent blackouts.
British Gas, EON and EDF are just a few of the suppliers taking part in the scheme.
It’s definitely worth noting, a number of customers on Economy 7 tariffs will see their bills rise this year due to the way the price cap works.
Economy tariffs – how do they work?
Economy 7 or 10 tariffs are sometimes referred to as a “differential” or “multi-tariff rate”.
They can be a cheaper energy option than other price plans because you’ll commit to using most of your energy at night.
This means you can get a good discount for the units you use during the off-peak hours.
These tariffs are best suited to people with storage heaters and a hot water tank, which can be heated up at night when it’s cheapest and then used to provide hot water and heating for the next day.
A lot of modern appliances also include a timer, so you can set your washing machine and dishwasher to run during the off-peak window.
How much could I save?
The exact savings you can make will vary depending on the type of appliance you have and the settings they’re on.
Plus, you should be careful of running electrical appliances like these overnight when you’re asleep as it can be a fire risk.
But you can save up to hundreds of pounds.
Savvy saver Scott Dixon previously told The Sun he saves £725 a year on his Economy 7 tariff.
Is it safe to run appliances at night?
Electrical Safety First has previously reminded households to be wary of leaving appliances on at night.
Stephen Curtler, product safety manager at the charity, said leaving your appliances running when you’re asleep means you aren’t aware if they catch fire.
“Fires that occur at night can present a greater risk to people who may be sleeping and their response to the incident is delayed,” he said.
The London Fire Brigade has echoed this, suggesting turning off as many appliances as you can before going to bed, apart from those that have to stay on like fridges.
More ways to save on your laundry costs
You could also reduce costs by doing an extra 10 minute spin in the washing machine to get it drier beforehand.
Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch.com, previously told The Sun that tumble dryers are one of the most energy-intensive devices in the home.
Owen said: “The longer your tumble dryer’s cycle, the more money it will cost you.
“If your clothes are dripping wet, it will have to run much longer to get them dry, increasing your energy bill dramatically.
“Also keep in mind that overloading the drum is likely to put your machine under strain and end up costing you more in the long run, while underloading the device will waste energy.”
You can turn down the temperature settings on your washing machine too.
Lisa Barber, Which? home products and services editor, said: “One of the easiest things people can do is to reduce washing machine temperatures, as switching to 30°C could save £13 in annual costs, while 20°C could cut £24.
“Maintaining your tumble dryer could trim your bill, as filters blocking up with dust and lint from clothes can add nearly £20 to annual laundry costs.
“Making the switch to a Which? Best Buy detergent could also save people close to £50 a year, with some cheap Best Buys costing as little as 7p per wash.”
Meanwhile, the Good Housekeeping Institute reckons you should wash jeans, jumpers and towels after every three uses.
But if they look and smell OK, hold off for the sake of the planet, and your wallet.