Will showering less help cut your energy bills?

Switching energy providers always used to be the best way to cut your bills, but now there are no cheap tariffs available, is there anything else you can do to cut costs?

Energy bills are rising significantly and Ofgem has just announced it is likely to start reviewing its price cap on a more regular basis.

In April they rose by 54 per cent on average and are predicted to rise again in October.

Yet now the regulator has said it’s looking into reviewing the cap every three months, which could see another price rise sooner.

Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem, said: “Our top priority is to protect consumers by ensuring a fair and resilient energy market that works for everyone.

“Today’s proposed change would mean the price cap is more reflective of current market prices and any price falls would be delivered more quickly to consumers.”

Martin Lewis, creator of MoneySavingExpert.com, criticised the move. Lewis said that Ofgem had sold consumers down the river and was leaving consumers’ lives at risk, arguing that more must be done to make things better for them.

Meanwhile, pressure has been growing for the government to act on rising bills, possibly by giving customers help funded by a one-off windfall tax on energy providers now reporting record profits.

Yet the response has been far from adequate, only offering a loan which needs to be paid back plus a one-off £150 rebate which is not means-tested to help some with bills.

All bills are rising but it’s energy that has taken the spotlight.

What hasn’t been addressed is what people can do. If your bill rises by 54 per cent or more, how are you supposed to pay it? Wages aren’t increasing and all other bills are going up at the same time. Benefits rose slightly at the start of April but were nowhere near the current level of inflation.

You don’t have to look very far to hear the desperate cases of households across the country going without heating or hot water and still not being able to pay their bills.

What’s clear is that real help is required through a cut to bills or an increase in benefits and that anything else is not only insulting, but also potentially life-threatening.

But is there any merit in the energy-saving tips that have been suggested for years? According to the Energy Saving Trust, by making several small changes households could cut their energy costs by a third.

For a two-bed flat, savings were £150 if a range of measures were implemented and for a family living in a three-bed semi-detached house they could be closer to £220.

A spokesperson said: “Making several small and swift changes, such as turning devices off standby and reducing daily water usage, could enable many people to offset the increase in costs by around a third.

“For those wishing to future-proof their homes, investing in professional draught-proofing and insulation in preparation for the winter months could lead to a reduction in bills by £405 for a semi-detached home. Installing solar panels for a similar property could lead to additional annual savings of around £450.”

It estimates that turning all devices around the home off standby mode and making sure they’re switched off at the wall could save £55 per year on average and cutting showers to four minutes and replacing one bath a week with a shower could cut a further £35 per person.

Switching your washing machine to 30C, reducing one cycle per week, and only running a full dishwasher can cut £28 per year off your bill.

Some of the real savings, however, come from changing how energy efficient a home is. This almost always requires the homeowner to pay upfront, and therefore isn’t suitable for everyone, but over time will be paid for through the savings on energy bills.

It is estimated a three-bed semi-detached house with four occupants could cut an average of £95 off their energy bill with professional draught-proofing of windows, doors, floors and skirting boards at a cost of £240.

Cavity wall insulation, at an average cost of £1,200, could cut £285 off an annual energy bill while loft insulation, at an average cost of £465, could save £25 annually.

Larger projects, such as installing solar panels, at an average cost of £6,500, could typically reduce bills of a home in London by £505, in Manchester by £475, and in Stirling by £450.

However, for those who only have the option of risking their health by turning the power off, the options are limited.

Speaking to your provider at the earliest opportunity if you can’t pay your bills and seeking help from a debt charity is recommended.