Customers of major energy suppliers including British Gas, E.ON, Octopus Energy and OVO customers can slash £100 off their annual energy bill by making one simple change at home.
Energy experts say that adjusting your thermostat settings can result in huge savings, which is particularly important right now as household energy bills are set to rise again in January.
Experts recommend turning your thermostat down by just one degree and in doing so you can reduce your energy bill by up to £100 per year.
The ideal temperature to set your heating at is at least 18C in winter to stay healthy and protect against the cold, although the elderly may benefit from a slightly warmer temperature.
But even if your heating is normally set higher at around 22C or 21C, simply reducing this by one degree will make a huge difference to your energy costs and it won’t massively reduce the warmth of your home.
Gordon Wallis, boiler expert from Your NRG, explained: “Small adjustments can lead to significant savings. By simply lowering your thermostat by one degree, households could save over £100 annually.
“Keep your home’s thermostat over 14 degrees Celsius to prevent mould growth – a little higher in a tiled room. Anything below this threshold will encourage dampness to develop in your house, impacting your property and your well-being. »
Other ways to keep your house warm that are entirely free include drawing your curtains and blinds when it starts to get dark, keeping bedroom windows closed at night, and wearing several layers of thinner clothing to stay toasty.
The advice comes ahead of a hike to energy bills in January as Ofgem increases its price cap, meaning the average household bill will rise by 1.2%.
The price hike will take the typical bill for homes in England, Scotland and Wales up from £1,717 to £1,783 per year – or an additional £1.75 per month. It follows a previous 10% hike in October.
Ofgem has advised customers to take advantage of increasing choice among suppliers ahead of the increase and look for the best deal to help keep their bills down, saying households could save up to £140.
Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, said: “We understand that the cost of energy remains a challenge for too many households. However, with more tariffs coming into the market, there are ways for customers to bring their bill down so please shop around and look at all the options.
“In the short-term though, anyone struggling with bills should speak to their supplier to make sure they’re getting the help they need and look around to make sure they’re on the best, most affordable deal for them.”
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