How the Government Can Lower Your Energy Bills

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This year there has been a worry of an impending energy crisis come autumn. October was supposed to be the deadline when households and businesses across the nation would see a drastic change to their energy bills. In some cases, certain households could see up to a £1500 increase to their annual energy costs. Due, in some part, to the war in Ukraine, the UK has seen the overall cost of living rise this year, and with winter quickly approaching an increase in energy costs is going to take its toll.

Last week, the government announced a plan that will help minimize the increasing energy costs for at least two years. The “energy price guarantee” will keep energy bills for typical households around £2500 per year. Previously, the energy hike would have allowed for average prices to go as high as £3500.

Although measures have been put in place to keep prices low, like always, different households will see different pricing. Usage varies due to several factors like the size of your home or the number of occupants living there. The government has simply stepped in so that the bills you will be paying are at a lower rate.

Here is the cost breakdown:

34p per kWh of electricity

10.3p per kWh of gas

Even with our governments financial support these prices mean that most households will still see an increase in utility costs compared to last year.

How to save on energy costs

The cost of living has gone up and energy prices are going to increase despite government assistance to make it more manageable, which means many people will be looking for ways to save. It could be excluding a few items from the shopping basket or not having a take away during the week. Around the house, there is a few things you can do to cut back energy costs.

1. Switch off appliances

This should not come as a surprise to anyone but when you are done with your laundry or the dishwasher has finished, it is important that you turn off your appliances and not just leave them on standby. Appliances will use unnecessary electricity just because they are not fully turned off. By doing this you can save up to £35 per year.

2. Insulate your home

If you have lived in your home a while or have just recently purchased an older home, it could be worth redoing the insulation in the attic, draught proofing doors, and installing double glazing on your widows. If your home is well insulated, you will not need to turn on the heating as often.

This can be an expensive process but there are government grants available through the like the Affordable Warmth scheme or the Energy Companies Obligation scheme that can help with the cost. Eligibility for the grants changes often and people are encouraged to reapply if they are unsuccessful. You can check to see if you are eligible online here.

3. Smart Thermostat

If you install a smart thermostat, you can turn your heating on and off from your phone, it can identify how you can save money on energy, and let you know when your home is heated enough. You are almost guaranteed to save money on gas and electricity.

Visit this page to see the best and most affordable thermostats.

4. Spend less time in the shower

Taking shorter showers will not only save you money on your water bill but it can also help save the environment. According to Energy Saving Trust if you keep your shower time to around 4 minutes you can save £95 per year.

You can order a FREE four-minute shower timer here.

5. Install LED light bulbs

LED light are not only far less expensive to run than old style halogen bulbs, but they also last longer. Go around your home and count all the lightbulbs and then multiply by 6. That is how much money you could be saving!

If you’re unsure about which LED bulbs to buy, we have found a list for you. When ordering, just make sure to double check which sized bulbs are fitted in your home already.

6. Get an energy efficient boiler

Replacing your boiler is not the cheapest option to save money in the short term, but depending how old our current boiler is, it could save you up to £315 per year.

Luckily, as of March this year, there are government grants available to install low carbon heating systems as part of an initiative to make the UK more eco-friendly. To be eligible for Boiler Upgrade Scheme you just need to be a homeowner in England or Wales. This includes private landlords and second-home owners. You can get:

£5,000 pounds off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump

£5,000 off the cost and installation of a biomass boiler

£6,000 off the cost and installation of a ground source heat pump


Follow some of these tips to keep your energy bills low this winter and you will even help save the planet a little bit too! If you’re looking for more tips for homeowners click here and visit our News page.