Energy bills are one of the largest fixed costs in most UK households, and they receive a lot of attention when it comes to switching suppliers or tariffs. But switching is only one lever. How a household actually uses energy, the habits and choices made day to day, has a significant effect on the monthly bill regardless of which supplier provides it.
Some of the changes below cost nothing. Others involve a small upfront purchase that pays back over a few months. None of them require a full home retrofit or a large investment.
Heating is usually the biggest opportunity
Space heating accounts for around half of the average household energy bill. Turning the thermostat down by one degree can reduce heating costs by around ten per cent, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Most households have their thermostat set higher than necessary, particularly during sleeping hours or when the house is empty. A programmable or smart thermostat, if you do not have one already, pays for itself relatively quickly by ensuring heating is only on when it is actually needed.
Bleeding radiators if they are not heating evenly, checking that furniture is not blocking radiators, and making sure loft insulation is adequate are all low-cost or no-cost improvements that affect how efficiently the heating system works.
Hot water and appliances
Washing clothes at 30 degrees rather than 40 or 60 uses significantly less energy and is sufficient for most everyday laundry. Running the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads rather than half loads reduces the number of cycles needed. Not leaving appliances on standby overnight is a smaller saving than it used to be due to improvements in standby power consumption, but across multiple devices it still adds up over a year.
Check whether you are on the right tariff for how you already use energy
Some households benefit from economy 7 or time-of-use tariffs if they use significant amounts of energy overnight, for example, to charge an electric vehicle, run storage heaters, or heat water. Others are on these tariffs without realising and are not using them in a way that benefits them. Checking your current tariff and comparing it to a standard variable rate for your level of usage takes a few minutes and can reveal whether a switch would help.
Check your meter readings
If you are not on a smart meter, submitting regular actual readings rather than relying on estimated bills prevents overpayment or underpayment that needs to be reconciled later. A large credit balance building up in your energy account is your money sitting with the supplier. You can request a refund of credit above a reasonable buffer at any time.
Ask about available support
Energy suppliers are required by Ofgem to maintain a Priority Services Register and offer additional support to eligible customers, including those on low incomes, those with health conditions, or those with young children. The Warm Home Discount scheme provides a one-off reduction on the bills of eligible households each winter. The eligibility criteria and application process vary, so it is worth checking directly with your supplier what is available.
Secure payment via Stripe. Cancel anytime.
Ask Fin provides general guidance only, not regulated financial or energy advice. Energy prices and schemes can change. Check with your supplier or the Energy Saving Trust for current guidance.