Households can expect to pay an additional £693 on their annual energy bills from April this year.
Ofgem has announced that the energy price cap will rise by 54 per cent, affecting around 22 million homeowners across England, Wales and Scotland.
The rise will see average annual bills spike by around £693 to £1,971 for standard tariff customers and £2,017 for prepayment meter customers.
The huge new price cap, which follows an 12 per cent rise from last October, will come into force from April 1.
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Following this news, energy experts have revealed some simple steps that every household can take to cut their energy bills by more than £700 per year, reports Hull Live.
Turn off appliances when they aren't in use - don't leave them in standby
Uswitch say that turning off chargers, TVs, computers, laptops and dishwashers at the wall when they are not in use can save you £35 per year.
Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch said: "The Energy Saving Trust estimates you can save around £35 a year by remembering to turn your appliances off properly, and not leaving them in standby mode."
Switch to LED bulbs
Making the switch to LEDs can save households £3 a year.
“You should also check if your bulbs are LEDs rather than less energy efficient ones, such as halogens," Will says.
"Every 50-watt halogen bulb that is swapped for an LED alternative saves households £3 a year. It may not seem like much, but it all adds up over every light in your home."
Put your heating on a timer
Setting a timer for your heating, instead of leaving it on all day, can make a big difference to your energy bills.
Michael Reading at Housetastic said: “Set a timer early in the morning so your home is nice and warm as you get ready for the day, and perhaps set a timer in the early evenings, but generally the heating does not need to be on all day.
“It is estimated that turning the thermostat down by just one degree can save up to 10% on a fuel bill, not to mention the amount of energy.
"Assess whether you really need to turn the heating to its highest temperature and instead aim for a comfortable heat.”
Move furniture away from radiators
NetVoucherCodes say that furniture blocking radiators can drastically reduce the heat in your home.
"Ensure your furniture is not covering radiators, as this can block heat from filling your home," they said.
"A sofa or bulky chair will trap heat, meaning you’re paying for the warmth but not feeling the benefit of it."
Invest in energy efficient fridge freezers
These hefty white goods can consume up to a third of all the power in your home.
Investing in an energy-efficient appliance should lower the cost of running them long term and reduce CO2 emissions.
Fridges with energy labels A+++ will consume up to 80% less than a rating D.
You should also keep the door shut, especially if you are spending a large time browsing in your fridge freezer.
Use your tumble dryer less
While they are a complete blessing when you need your washing in a hurry, the tumble dryer is notorious for racking up your energy bills.
Be more mindful when it comes to drying your clothes. Make the most of sunny days and hang out the washing or use maidens around your home.
When you do go to use your tumble dryer, make sure it’s full to maximise efficiency.
If you use your dryer for five hours every other week, that will cost you an average of £142 each year.
Switch to an energy-efficient boiler
Investing in a more energy-efficient, A-rated condensing boiler could save you up to a huge £300 per year.
These new style boilers include a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator controls.
Insulate your roof
If you want to stop heat escaping from your home, insulating your roof is a great way to combat this.
Retaining the heat inside your home means you could shave up to £130 off your energy bills each year.
This could cost several hundred pounds but could save you a fortune in the long term.
Turn your heating down by 1 degree
Turning the dial to 1 degree below your usual temperature can save you a huge £80 per year, says thinkmoney.
Only turn radiators on in the rooms you require and for anyone with a bit more spare time, you could even make your own draft excluders using old clothes and bed sheets for the bottom of doors.
Switch unnecessary plugs off
Just one unnecessary plug left on is £99 more on your bill each year. If you were to leave five plugs left on each day, that jumps up to £491.
So, when you finish your work, double-check what needs to be left on and what you can switch off.
Switch lights and lamps off
Leaving a light on in your house costs an average £170 per year, so it's important to make sure you switch off any unnecessary lights or lamps.
Boil the kettle only when needed
How many times have you got up to boil the kettle to make a cup of tea, only to forget and have to re-boil?
Each time you do that, you are spending an extra 2.5p. Say you do that three times a day, that’s £27 across the whole year – making that the most expensive cuppa in Britain.
Switch internet tariffs
It is definitely a great time to get saving and review your household bills.
If you feel you are spending too much on your broadband, there are things you can do.
By looking for the cheapest deal out there for internet providers, you could save up to £69 each year.
Leave your hair to dry naturally
With more of us at home, there are things you can now do which might not have been possible when getting ready for work – such as, letting your hair dry naturally.
A low-power hairdryer uses 73kWh – or £0.035 - for just 10 minutes’ worth of use.
If you were to use it every day, that rounds up to £13 per year, which could easily be saved.
Switch off your children’s consoles
It’s easy for children to play on their consoles and forget to turn them off. But, leaving a games console on standby can cost £0.03p a day – the equivalent of £11 a year.
You could even use this as a learning experience and reward them with the annual savings if they remember to switch off their consoles once they are finished.
Check floors for cracks and gaps
It’s not just the cracks under our door that heat can escape from – heat is prone to drifting upwards through cracks in floorboards. This is especially true of older houses that have genuine wooden timber floorboards, say Damart.
Rugs are a cheap, and stylish way of preventing heat from escaping.
However, if you are looking to future-proof your home, carpet is also an option to consider for long-term investment.
Add thick curtains to your windows
Temperatures can drop to what feels like arctic levels over the colder months, so curtains can provide an added layer of protection from those bitter nights.
Options such as Thermaliner blackout curtains are a committed way of keeping your home insulated. However, if you’re perfectly happy with your current style of curtain, you can simply add fleece liner to your existing curtains.
Keep the curtains open during daylight hours to let the sunlight in and add natural heat to your home, but when the sun sets, draw your curtains.
Make your radiators more efficient
You can make your radiators work harder by checking that they’re in good working order and maximising on their location. Make sure they’re bled regularly, and that there’s no furniture in front of them that could be absorbing heat.
If your radiators are located on external walls, consider lining them with foil to reflect heat back into your room instead of it being wasted and escaping into the wall.
Seal drafty doorways and windows
Heat’s mastery is escaping from every little crevice, so it’s key to keep out those pesky draughts by keeping doorways fully sealed over the colder months.
Make sure to use rubber weatherstripping to fill spaces between the sides and bottom of your door and the door frame. If the space between the bottom of the door and your floor is extra-large you can also use a draft stopper.
For external doors, ensure that your keyhole, letterbox, or cat flaps are covered. These accessories can make a massive difference to your home’s insulation and can be picked up for a couple of pounds from your local hardware store.
