Summer is finally here - but the hotter weather could add an extra £380 to your energy bill, according to experts.
Analysts at energy-saving smart meter app Loop have broken down how much popular summer items cost to run - including hot tubs, fans and garden heaters.
If you’re lucky enough to have an air-conditioning unit to cool down, this could cost up to £70 more than a standard fan.
In comparison, a family of four each using a 35W fan in their bedroom at night could be adding almost £3 per month.
Garden heaters, used on chilly summer nights, could increase your energy bill by £144 a month, while keeping beer and wine in an extra "drinks" fridge could cost you £30.
The research from Loop comes after the Ofgem price cap fall to £2,074 from July 1 - down 17% from the Energy Price Guarantee, which was set at £2,500.
These figures are used to describe what someone with typical energy use can expect to pay over a year - although in reality, there is no cap on energy.
The price cap puts a limit on how much you can be charged for unit rates of gas and electricity - so those who use more, will pay more.
With temperatures set to rise further over the coming weeks, Loop is urging billpayers to monitor their energy use when using devices around their homes this summer.
The Energy Doctor, Dr Steve Buckley, Head of Data Science at Loop, said: “While the new energy price cap is great news for consumers, it’s still important to keep a close eye on your energy usage.
“A warm spring in the UK has meant cooling devices have potentially been plugged in for hours at a time already.
“Now is a great time to reset your habits to better control your energy usage, especially as the summer heat really starts to kick in.
“At first glance, these costs may not seem that high on an hourly basis, but they can easily add up if you’ve got a few devices running or if you forget to switch them off.
“Monitoring your energy usage by using a free energy-saving smart meter app like Loop is key to making savings.”
Cost of running popular summer appliances
- 35W Tower Fan: 8p (per day, 8 hours) £2.40 (per month, average 30 days)
- 70W Beer Pump Dispenser: 17p (per day, 8 hours) £5.10 (per month, average 30 days)
- 145W Drinks Fridge: 35p (per day, 8 hours) £10.50 (per month, average 30 days)
- 1000W Air Conditioner: £2.40 (per day, 8 hours) £72 (per month, average 30 days)
- 2000W Garden Heater: £4.80 (per day, 8 hours) £144 (per month, average 30 days)
- 2000W Garden Heater: £4.92 (per day, 8 hours) £147.60 (per month, average 30 days)
