SUMMER is here but just because you can turn off your central heating, it doesn’t mean your energy bill is not at risk of rising.
It is important to stay alert and be aware of common hot weather mistakes that can drive up your electricity bill by a whopping £364.12.
While they may seem pretty common practice, things like a long shower and cooking dinner can actually cause your household bills to rocket.
That’s because these actions can guzzle your electricity, and often leave households bamboozled when their monthly bill arrives higher than expected.
The Sun spoke to energy expert Nicholas Auckland, from Trade Radiators, who has shared with readers the mistakes they need to look out for.
Using a large fan in a small space – £10.23
With temperatures heating up this week, you may be thinking about digging out your fan to help you keep cool as you carry out tasks around the house.
But be careful as this cooling device can drive up your electricity bill.
“The average fan wattage ranges from 20W to 75W. Although a 75W fan is more powerful and provides better cooling qualities, it also uses far more energy and has higher running costs,” Nicholas said.
“A mistake many homeowners make is using a powerful fan in a small room or hallway, as the room is smaller a lower watt fan can achieve sufficient cooling qualities in this space,” he added.
But just because it is a lower watt does not mean it won’t cost you.
Running a 35W fan for an average of eight hours per day will cost 6p.
This equals 42p over a seven day period and for a 31 day month it would cost roughly £1.86.
Over the course of three months during the summer a 35W fan, running for eight hours per day, will cost around £5.58.
Similarly, running a 35W fan for 12 hours per day will cost 9p.
It will therefore cost £8.37 to run a 35W fan for 12 hours per day for three months, costing £10.23.
The Sun has composed a list of all the ways you keep yourself cool without using a fan.
How to stay cool on a budget
Uswitch has shared with The Sun ways to keep cool on a budget
Close the curtains: Keep your curtains shut during the day. It may be tempting to let the light in, but the sunshine will heat the room, turning your home into a greenhouse.
Use a heat reflector on windows: Even curtains can heat up in the sun, so putting up a heat reflector, window film or even aluminium foil is an effective way to reflect heat away from your home.
Unplug the tech: Plugged-in gadgets produce heat, including those that are on standby. Unplug them when you are not using them to keep the room cool and to save money. The same rule applies for chargers, so be sure to unplug when fully charged.
Use natural air coolers: According to plant experts, when it gets hot, some houseplants can let excess water evaporate through their leaves, which cools themselves and their surrounding area.
Take advantage of the daylight: Switch the lights off during the day. Older lightbulbs may release heat causing a room to get warmer, so turning them off or switching to LED bulbs that give off less heat can help reduce the overall temperature. With the sun setting late in the evening during summer you can keep the lights off for longer to keep the room cooler and to cut costs.
Use a hot water bottle: You don’t have to use a hot water bottle just to keep warm. Instead, you can fill it with cold water, and ditch the warm covering, to keep you cool during the night.
Drying washing using a tumble dryer – £52.08
Tumble dryers are very useful tools over the winter but in summer they are not always essential.
“Not only will a tumble dryer increase the humidity of your home but it will also contribute towards a huge amount of energy usage.
“Summer is the perfect opportunity to invest in an outdoor washing line and hang your washing to dry outside,” Nicholas explained.
The average tumble dryer uses 2500W, therefore, running a tumble dryer for one hour per day will cost 56p.
Over a seven day week using a 2500W tumble dryer for an hour per day will cost roughly £3.92.
For a 31 day month this equals £17.56 and over the three month summer period it will cost £52.08.
By hanging your washing outdoors you will see a saving of £52.08 over the three month summer period.
However, if you wish to continue to use your tumble dryer it is entirely up to you.
Using your oven frequently – £100
The oven is an appliance which most of us use everyday to cook, but overuse can lead to rises in your bill.
“Using the oven to cook can heat up your kitchen substantially, to avoid this you can instead take advantage of the warmer weather by cooking outside on a barbecue or using smaller appliances like air fryers, ”Nicholas explained.
Ovens use an average of 2000W to 5000W of electricity.
If you have a 5000W oven, cooking for one hour per day will cost you £1.12, this results in a cost of £7.84 per seven day week.
Over a 31 day month using a 5000W oven, for an hour per day, will cost £34.72 and over the course of three months during the summer this can cost £104.16.
This price can be even higher if you have numerous residents living in your property that are cooking at different times.
By coordinating meal times and cooking on an outdoor BBQ where possible you can save over £100 during the three month summer period.
How do I calculate my energy bill?
BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.
The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/kWh.The standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year – irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity.
You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill.
Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type – this will give you your usage costs.
You’ll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage – this will then give you your annual costs.
Divide this figure by 12, and you’ll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1.
Using a high pressure shower – up to £119.04
Summer is a time where we tend to shower more often due to being sweatier and partaking in more outdoor activities.
Showers come in different sizes and use different amounts of energy, depending on how big they are.
“On average the highest shower in terms of wattage is 10.8kW,” Nicholas said.
The average individual showers once a day for 8 minutes, this will cost 32p per day using a 10.8kW shower.
Over the course of a seven day week that equals £2.24 and over a 31 day month it will cost £9.92.
For the three months over summer a 10.8kW shower will cost £29.76, this is only for one person in a household.
If you have a household of four you’re looking at a cost of £119.04 over the summer period.
The lowest pressure shower in terms of wattage is 6.5 kW. For an 8 minute shower once a day this will cost 19p per day.
For a seven day week it will cost £1.33 and a 31 day month will cost £5.89.
For one individual over the three months of summer a 6.6kW shower will cost £17.67, this is equal to £70.68 for a 4 person household.
If you have a higher watt shower but are unable to switch it, a helpful trick is to cut down on having long showers.
You can set a timer on your phone or another appliance to help you keep an eye on how long you are spending in the shower.
Using a dehumidifier – £82.77
Dehumidifiers can be great at improving air quality and preventing mould in humid summer conditions, but you may want to think twice before you plug in your device.
“Large dehumidifiers can use up to 500W. If you have a 500W dehumidifier and it runs for 8 hours per day, it can cost around 89p per day,” Nicholas warned.
For a seven day week this would cost £6.23 per week and £27.59 per 31 day month.
Over the course of three months a 500W dehumidifier can cost approximately £82.77 to run.
What is going on with your energy bill?
Energy bills have fallen significantly since last summer and are due to fall again in July.
The average price of an energy bill is due to fall by 7% next month, when the latest changes to the energy price cap come into effect.
Ofgem have confirmed the typical household’s energy bill will fall from £1,690 a year to £1,574 a year on July 1.
This is £500 less than the cap in July last year, when it was £2,074.
It is important to remember the price cap changes every three months, as it reflects the wholesale cost of energy, so your bills might rise October.
Forecasts by Cornwall Insights suggest bills might rise by 12% in October to £1,762 a year.
But wholesale markets could still change between now and then.
The figure is predicted to stay the same even in the next price cap which takes place in January 2025.
Energy bills have skyrocketed over previous years due to Covid lockdowns, cold winter and geopolitical issues such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
The energy price cap limits the price you pay for energy, although your bill will vary depending on how much energy you use.
Support if you are struggling
THERE’S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £1,500.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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