15 ways to save over £300 on energy bills this winter

With the recent cold snap meaning the heating is on most evenings, you might be looking at ways to save money on your energy bills this winter.

Research conducted by Electricity North West’s Take Charge campaign, revealed that only 34% of North West residents pay their fuel bills without difficulty and almost half of people in the North West (44%) would not know who to approach for advice on financial support available for energy saving home improvements.

Almost 15% of households (14.6%) in the North West are classed as fuel poor, meaning the household’s energy efficiency rating is Band D or below, and their disposable income (after housing and fuel costs) is below the poverty line.

These new figures support UK Government data, which shows that the second highest fuel poverty gap in England can be found in the North West.

This gap is the reduction in fuel bills that the average fuel poor household needs to not be classed as fuel poor. In the North West, this figure is £442.

Energy providers Cadent, which supplies the region's gas, and Electricity North West, which has teamed up with Energy Saving Trust and Citizens Advice in the North West, have shared these tips which could see you save over £300 per year on bills:

1. Turning your appliances off or unplugging them can save £55 per year
2. Turning lights off when not in use can save around £20 per year. Replacing them with LED bulbs can save even more
3. Washing clothes at lower temperatures (30°C) could help to save around £13 per year
4. Drying clothes on racks inside where possible, or outside in warmer weather, instead of using a tumble drier, can save £55 per year
5. Reducing dishwasher use by one load per week for one year could save £13
6. Turning down the thermostat by one degree could save around £100 per year. For most, the lowest comfortable temperature to set the heating is between 18°C and 21°C (as advised by the World Health Organisation)
7. Only filling the kettle with as much water as required could save £11 per year
8. If everyone in an average household reduced their shower to four minutes, it would lead to a total saving of £37 a year from the water heating bill and water bill (for those with a water meter)

This results in a total saving of £304 per year. Further advice includes:

• Closing curtains at night to keep the house insulated
• Keeping as much heat as possible in the room; Cadent says putting cling film on your windows can also help to retain heat
• Moving furniture away from radiators to let heat circulate
• Considering electrical items which could be cheaper to run for your needs, such as a slow cooker, microwave or air fryer in place of a gas or electric oven
• 21% of heat loss in a home is through windows and doors, so draft proofing can make a big difference - saving the average household £45 a year
• Put the lid on a pan to help the water heat up quicker when cooking on a gas hob
• Use a smart meter. A lot of people don’t realise that chargers will use energy when plugged in too, even if they’re not connected to a device. A smart meter can help you to know how much each appliance uses

Mark Belmega, director of sustainability and social purpose at Cadent, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is making us all look at our outgoings and people up and down the country are making big cutbacks to make ends meet.

“There are however some really easy ways to save money on your heating and by applying some of these little tips, the savings will soon add up.”

Samantha Loukes, head of customer inclusion at Electricity North West, commented: “With fuel prices increasing and constantly in the news, it can be a worrying and overwhelming time for many people across the region.

“We’re here to help. Our friendly advisors at Citizens Advice are on hand to give impartial advice on how to save money and there is much-needed funding available for those who meet the criteria.

“I’d urge anyone who is worried about energy bills to get in touch with Take Charge today.

“As well as advice and tips, there’s also funding and grants available to help make homes warmer and more energy efficient.”

Samantha added: “Almost half of people in the North West don’t know where to turn for home energy improvement advice. The Take Charge campaign is here to change that. The collaboration between Electricity North West, Energy Saving Trust and Citizens Advice in the North West brings a wealth of expertise, advice and tangible, financial support, aimed specifically at North West residents.”

Electricity North West is investing £8 million in the Take Charge free service to support people in the North West.

Take Charge will support up to 25,000 households across the region every year for the next five years.

Since its launch in April, more than 10,000 local people have already accessed the service, receiving help with energy debt, access to support services and many supported with grant applications.

For more information and support, contact Take Charge on (freephone) 0808 169 9924, WhatsApp 07893 950999 go to takechargetoday.co.uk

For more energy-saving tips (verified by the Energy Saving Trust), visit saving-energy.co.uk