Many householders will have heard the phrase 'heat the human not the home'. It has sprung up as we face rising energy costs and the cost of living crisis. Sales of energy saving and warming products including mini heaters and even wearable blankets have spiked in readiness for the colder autumn and winter months, but one energy company has gone a step further.
Octopus Energy's 'Winter Workout' isn't a new addition to the services it offers customers but it is certainly one that has come into its own this year. Its aim is a save in energy without compromising on staying cosy. Giving tips from energy and heating experts the firm claims that last year customers taking up the advice saved an average of 12% on their bill prices.
As part of the scheme the company offered 7,000 free electric blankets to customers that needed them most, saving them, according to Octopus, £300 on their energy bills, which equates to an average 19% on bills. The good news is that the scheme will run again this winter.
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Electric blankets are an efficient way to heat a person and save customers from paying to heat an entire home. It currently costs less than 3p an hour to keep a person warm with an electric blanket, whilst heating a whole home could cost around £4.70 a day.
An analysis by Octopus Energy’s data team, which looked at the smart meter data of 4,190 customers who opted into the scheme, showed that customers who received electric blankets reduced their energy bills by 19% compared to a control group. This would see customers save £300 on their energy bill this year.
Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, chief product officer at Octopus Energy Group, said: “We speak to over 30,000 customers each day and know that many people are worried and struggling to pay their bills this winter. We’re doing all we possibly can to cushion the impact of the crisis on people."
Adding: “We started sending electric blankets out to customers who qualified under our financial assessment scheme after one of our scientists highlighted the energy efficiency of “heating the human not the home” – especially for those with limited mobility. This analysis proves just how much difference it makes – with savings of £300 this is perhaps the single biggest thing many people can do to stay warm affordably in these tough times.
“This crisis is real – but alongside the government’s welcome support package, there is a lot that energy companies can do and Octopus will be relentless in finding ways to help.”
The scheme is open to all Octopus Energy customers and can be accessed via a simple online tool which asks a series of questions about their financial situation. The distribution of the blankets is based on need, prioritising those who are struggling the most. However, as well as blankets available for free for those most in need, Octopus is partnering with a major electric blankets supplier to provide half price blankets to any customer.
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