How can I reduce my electricity bill?

Over recent years, you may have noticed a steady increase in the average costs of your electricity bills. This is due to the fact that the costs of electricity are on the rise, across all electricity suppliers. Of course, this directly affects how much the average consumer needs to pay for their electricity bills. So, we all need to think about our electricity use in order to bring down our bills. Below, we’ll take a closer look at how you can reduce your electricity bills.

Do you know where most of your electricity costs come from, on average?

Are you aware of where your electricity costs actually stem from? You probably haven’t taken the time to break down every payment on your electricity bills, but it’s worth knowing where the major costs come from.

Reduce heating to cut home electricity costs

Heating is a major contributor to your electricity bills. Consider how often you actually need to heat your home - could you reduce the costs of your electricity bills by turning down the heating and turning it off when you don’t really need it? If you need to save money on your electricity bills, this is a great first step to take.

Use less electricity in the kitchen

The kitchen has perhaps the highest number of devices that use electricity in the whole home. Use electricity wisely here to bring down the costs of your bills: are there any ways you can really reduce your electricity use?

By opting for an induction hob and using kettles, microwaves and pressure cookers sparingly you can significantly reduce your electricity bills. When you’re cooking, use lids on your pans in order to use electricity more efficiently.

Use electrical appliances wisely

First up, using your tumble dryer less is a great way to reduce the costs of your electricity bills. Tumble dryers are incredibly energy intensive appliances, meaning they use up a lot of electricity each time you use them.

For the washing machine, cooler washes use less electricity. Lots of detergents out there allow you to wash your clothes well at lower temperatures, allowing you to save on your electricity bills.

In terms of other devices that run on electricity, unplug them when you’re not using them, rather than leaving them on standby. If they’re on standby, they’re still using electricity - turn them off totally to reduce the costs of those electricity bills!

Home electricity use: hot water

On the electricity market, you have the choice of many different electricity suppliers. Each will bill you regularly for the electricity that you use in your home and will provide you with an electricity meter so that you, and your supplier, can keep an accurate record of your electricity use.

Each energy supplier will set their own tariff, so it’s up to you as a consumer to compare suppliers and choose which one you want to provide your electricity. Each supplier will set up a payment plan with you to cover the electricity that you use, based on regular electricity meter readings.

Online supplier comparison sites are the quickest way to compare electricity suppliers in terms of tariff, service offering, payment plans, and so on. Make sure you discuss your tariff with the energy supplier before accepting a contract, as often the tariff quoted will be an estimate for your type of property and not an entirely accurate amount.

Often, you can reduce the costs of your electricity bills by changing your electricity supplier. However, the best way to make real reductions to the costs of your bills is by changing your electricity use habits for the better.

Aside from shopping around for the best electrical supplier for you, it’s wise to install energy efficient devices throughout your home. It’s also a good idea to install a thermostat to monitor and adjust how much electricity you use to heat your home.

We’re using electricity for more and more home devices

While the market is increasingly offering devices that consume less electricity, we’re so used to using devices that run on electricity in our homes that - for many people - our electricity consumption keeps going up.

Simply put, if we want to reduce our electricity costs, we need to use these devices less. So where’s the best place to start?

Use less electricity in the kitchen to cut your bills

Use an induction hob and your kettle, microwave or pressure cooker sparingly to reduce your use of electricity in the kitchen and cut down the costs of your bills.

Use electrical appliances less often

Use your tumble dryer less to reduce your electricity bills - as appliances go, they guzzle a whole lot of electricity every time you use them! Put your washing machine on at cooler temperatures to use less electricity with each wash and reduce your bills.

Remember: unplug devices that run on electricity rather than leaving them on standby to cut your electricity costs. They’re still using electricity if they’re on standby!

Did you know that installing a Netatmo Smart Thermostat can help you reduce the costs of your electricity bills? Heating your home uses up a lot of electricity, so being able to control and adjust your heating can help you reduce your bills. With a Netatmo Smart Thermostat, you can remotely program your heating from your smartphone or tablet! Reduce your electricity bills by heating more efficiently.

Choose the right electricity supplier for you

It’s up to you to choose the right electricity supplier, tariff and payment setup for you. Of course, if you’re a tenant rather than a home owner, you may have less freedom to choose between suppliers.

Online comparison sites make it quick and easy to compare energy suppliers, so make sure you do your research to find the best electricity supplier to suit your home’s needs.

Remember, changing electricity suppliers can save you a significant amount on your electricity bills. But reducing your electricity use in general is the best, lasting change you can make!