Energy Guides

Energy bills: How much will the cold snap cost me?

By Hazel Cottrell hazel.cottrell@consumerchoices.co.uk

The cold snap has forced millions of people to crank up their heating, but what effect will this have on energy bills? (11/1/10)

Snow has caused havoc across the UK over the past few weeks and the country has been gripped with sub-zero temperatures reaching as low as -22C.

As a result, Brits have been forced to turn up their thermostats to keep warm, leaving many people facing bigger energy bills.

In this guide we explain how much the cold snap might cost you, show you how to cut your energy bills by up to £192, and reveal top tips on keeping your home warm for less…

• 1. Slash your energy bills by up to £192
• 2. Top tips on keeping your home warm for less

How much bigger will my energy bills be?

On average, it costs £3 a day to heat a home, but this could increase by £1 a day as Brits contend with the current freezing conditions, according to uSwitch.com.

So, if the cold snap lasts a fortnight it will add £14 to household energy bills, but if it lasts through February it could cost consumers up to £60.

The amount it costs to heat your home will depend on how much energy you use though, as well as the tariff you’re on and how you choose to pay for it.

In the following sections we show you how to get the cheapest energy deal available and reduce the amount of energy you use, so you can minimise your winter energy costs.

Slash your energy bills by up to £192

Energy prices very massively between tariffs and switching to a cheaper deal could save you up to £192*.

Comparing and switching energy tariffs is easy - simply enter your postcode in the box below and enter a few deals about your current usage. Our energy calculator will then find the cheapest deals available to you.

You are likely to save the most money if you opt to pay your bills by direct debit and manage your bills online.

Top tips on keeping your home warm for less

As well as getting the cheapest energy, you can also cut your bills by reducing the amount of energy you use. A good way to do this is to make sure that the heat you pay for doesn’t escape from your home.

The Energychoices.co.uk team have come up with the following top tips on keeping your home warm for less:

• Make sure radiators are not covered, for example by long curtains, as this will prevent heat dispersing into the room
• Check windows and doors are properly sealed so they don’t let in a draught
• Nominate the room you use most, for example your living room, as your warm room and heat this to a pleasant temperature. Keep the door closed and turn down radiators in other rooms that are not used as often
• Open your curtains in the daytime to make the most of heat from sunlight then draw them at dusk to keep the heat in Consider getting double glazing
• Install a layer of reflective foil behind radiators – this will reflect heat back into the room and improve the performance of the radiator
• Get your boiler and central heating system checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer once a year to ensure they are working safely and efficiently
• Wrap up warm – several layers are better than one thick garment
• Consider fitting loft and cavity wall insulation – for details see our guide, the benefits of insulation.

Have you got any tips on reducing energy usage or preventing the heat escaping from your home? Please share them in the comments section below…

*During December 2009, Energychoices.co.uk users who switched their energy supplier saved on average £192.45