A GUIDE TO SWITCHING ENERGY AND STAYING WARM

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1 A GUIDE TO SWITCHING ENERGY AND STAYING WARM

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3 A message from comparethemarket.com A message from Friends of the Elderly The winter season brings with it not only the colder weather but, for many households, the stress and worry of the cost of staying warm in their homes. One of the quickest and easiest ways to save money is to shop around for the best energy deal. You could save up to 153 by simply switching provider, however there are also many things you can do around the house to reduce your energy consumption. To help remove any concerns around keeping warm this winter, we ve compiled some helpful tips to manage your energy usage that should have a big financial impact. James Padmore, Head of Energy, comparethemarket.com We know that many older people have difficulty staying warm and well in the winter. It s very concerning that so many sacrifice a meal or use their savings to afford to have their heating on. As well as struggling to cope with escalating heating and fuel allowance costs, an alarming number also have no one to talk to about their concerns about staying well at this time of year. Our Be a Friend campaign is encouraging everyone to get to know the people living around them and look out for each other where they can. If you have an older neighbour, friend or relative, why not take a moment out of your day to make sure they are keeping warm and well. Steve Allen, Chief Executive, Friends of the Elderly A Guide to Switching Energy and Staying Warm / 3

4 Keeping warm and well this winter We hope you find this guide interesting and informative. The fastest way to make the biggest savings on your energy is to make sure you re with the provider and tariff that is offering the best deal. If you re not familiar with how to compare the energy market or don t have access to the internet, we recommend that you ask a friend, family member or neighbour for their help. It s Friends of the Elderly s mission to help older people, especially those in need due to physical or mental frailty, isolation or poverty. It provides high quality caring services, personalised to the needs of the individual and integrated with local communities. For more tips and ideas about how you can help make sure older relatives, friends and neighbours are keeping warm and well, visit Friends of the Elderly s Be a Friend website: 4 \ A Guide to Switching Energy and Staying Warm

5 Which tariff is best for you? Fixed or Variable? One of the most common questions around energy is whether fixed or variable tariffs offer the best deal. There is not a hard and fast rule about which tariff you should opt for, we recommend you review the key considerations below and speak to your energy provider if you re still unsure. Fixed: Prices remain the same for a defined period of time, regardless of any price changes announced by the energy supplier. Variable: The standard and default tariff offered by energy companies will be variable. This type of tariff is available on most payment options. Some variations include: Green: Customers can choose to switch to green tariffs for electricity if they are concerned about reducing carbon emissions. Online: This requires customers to manage their entire account online. Because these tariffs reduce billing costs for the energy supplier, they are usually offered at a discounted price. Social: A social tariff is available to vulnerable customers, taking into account low income, age, illness or disability. Economy 7 Electricity: Most tariffs are available with Economy 7, but not all. These are ideal for consumers who use the majority of their energy at night. A Guide to Switching Energy and Staying Warm / 5

6 How to understand your energy bill Whether it s quarterly, half-yearly or annually, understanding your energy usage and knowing what to look out for is essential for those looking to save on energy bills. Bill/Statement Period: The period for which you are being charged gas and/or electricity usage YOUR ENERGY BILL Customer Reference Number: A number unique to you that allows energy companies to track your usage and history Gas/ Electricity Consumption: This shows how much gas and/or electricity has been used within the billing period and is measured in kilowatthours listed on your bill as kwh. 6 \ A Guide to Switching Energy and Staying Warm

7 Make sure you shop around for the best energy deal if your fixed energy tariff is due to expire. If you do not contact your supplier, you will automatically be rolled onto the lowest variable tariff which could end up costing more than your previous fixed energy deal. Tariffs: This will often be shown in two-tiers. The first will show a small amount of your energy use being charged at a higher rate this is for the first units of energy used within your household. Comparison: How this will be displayed will vary depending on which supplier you are with. Each bill you receive will compare your kwh usage for the specific period, with the same period the year previous. Projected Cost: An estimate of future costs based on your current energy usage. This is a key figure to keep in mind if you re looking to switch suppliers. A Guide to Switching Energy and Staying Warm / 7

8 Top tips for saving energy Loft insulation and cavity wall insulation makes a huge difference to heat retention. The cost on average can be offset in four years. Use draft excluders to stop cold air coming through exterior doors, windows and skirting boards. Turn off lights, appliances, technology and battery chargers at the socket when not in use. Energy wasted by leaving electrical items on standby costs UK households an average of per year. Invest in curtains with thermal linings, especially if you have single glazed windows. Reduce the water temperature on your boiler by a few degrees. Chances are you won t notice any difference but will save cash. Replace old boilers with new, more efficient models. 8 \ A Guide to Switching Energy and Staying Warm

9 Change your light bulbs to low-energy/ LED versions which can cut your energy consumption by up to 90 per cent. This could save you up to 240 a year. Close interior doors to prevent warmth escaping. Save energy by running your washing machine at 30 C rather than 40 C. Use a washing line or clothes airer instead of a tumble dryer. Cook double batches of food and freeze half for another day rather than running the oven or hob twice. Don t boil a full kettle of water when you only need to make one cup only fill for the number of cups needed. Fit insulating jackets on your hot water tank to reduce heat loss. Use an eco shower head, which can reduce your hot water usage and your water consumption. A Guide to Switching Energy and Staying Warm / 9

10 Switch and save In addition to taking steps within your home to make it more energy efficient, don t forget one of the fastest ways to save on your energy bill is to shop around for the best deal. The average household could save 153 a year on energy bills by simply comparing the market and switching to the best energy tariff.* Save on your energy bill with these 3 easy ways to switch: Visit online Call Download our Snapt app * 50% of customers who used comparethemarket.com to switch their gas and electricity between 1st July -31st August 2014 could have achieved this saving on their annual energy bill. 10 \ A Guide to Switching Energy and Staying Warm

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12 Friends of the Elderly T F Visit for more infomation