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BILL BOOST
The electricity-zapping appliance I turned off to help me cut my energy bills by £360 a year
Plus Luke explains how he gets paid to use electricity in off peak times
LUKE Denley is always looking for ways to save money and his energy bills are no exception.
The father of two, 42, will turn off lights, switch off devices on standby and monitor his use with a smart meter - even if he saves just a few pounds.
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The secondary school teacher from the West Midlands said: “I’ve always been into saving money for the last 20 years - it is my passion.
“I check my smart meter weekly to see what I can save and if there are any trends.”
Luke began to monitor his bills more closely two years ago.
He explains: “I’ve always kept an eye on my energy bill but when it started to creep up with the cost of living crisis and war in Ukraine, I was paying too much.
Read more on energy bills
“My wife and I decided what we can do is to be wise with what we use.”
The couple began to track which devices were using the most energy in their four-bedroom detached home.
They found that appliances which heat up were soaking up energy, so they try to use them as little as possible.
Luke said: “It took me a while to realise which devices were sucking up the most energy because you’ve got to notice when you switch it on and off.
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“I do have a heated airer and that takes up some energy but not much, although it is still a heating device.
“I can also see my smart devices going up and down when I switch them on and off.”
How to cut energy costs and get help with FOUR key household bills
The couple even turned off their wireless router extender after they realised it was guzzling energy.
Luke explains: “My router extender was using a lot more energy than I thought it did so I decided to switch it off.”
His cost-cutting has paid off and Luke has managed to shave £30 off his energy bill, which is around £154 a month.
Luke saves the money at the end of each month and puts it towards treats for his wife and four-year-old twin boys.
What energy bill help is available?
There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
He said: “I spend the money on Christmas, birthdays and meals out. We just try to enjoy life with the extra money.”
The young father also makes use of Saving Sessions with his supplier Octopus.
In these sessions, Octopus pays customers who use less power during peak times.
Luke tells me: “In the energy saving sessions everything goes off and I see how much I can save that way.
“I get an email with an invite to join. Afterwards, I get told how much I’ve saved and how much I’ve used as well.”
In his most successful session Luke was able to save £1.20 on his bill.
He is also signed up for Free Electricity sessions with Octopus.
In these sessions, the supplier gives its customers free electricity when market energy prices fall.
The electricity you would normally use costs the same but any extra power you use on top will be free.
Luke can save around 80p in a session.
“I use as much energy as I can and everything goes on,” Luke said.
“The dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer and oven go on. We do some cooking and turn on the heater and electric towel machine.”
“My appliances are on overnight and they’re pre-planned and pre-programmed to run.”
Other ways to save money on your energy bills
You could save hundreds on your energy bills with these tips from the Energy Saving Trust.
The most effective way to shave precious pounds off your bill is by draught-proofing your home.
Your house may lose heat through draughts around doors and windows, gaps in the floor or through the chimney.
Professional draught-proofing of these areas can save you around £80 a year.
It typically costs about £250 but you can do it yourself for much cheaper.
Another option is to cut the length of your showers to just four minutes.
If you take shorter showers then you could save £60 on your energy bills.
Or if you enjoy a long soak in the bath then you could save on your bills by swapping to a shower.
Switching just one bath a week with a four-minute shower could shave £9 off your bills.
Another hidden expense is a tumble dryer.
Drying clothes on racks inside or outside in warmer weather can save you £50 a year.
Or you could top up the insulation around your hot water cylinder.
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If you have thin spray foam or a loose 25mm jacket around your cylinder then you could benefit from increasing the insulation to a British Standard Jacket.
Doing this will help you save £40 a year.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Facebook group to share your tips and stories
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