Every Penny Counts Cut your fuel bills how to save energy and switch supplier
Energy prices are increasing all the time and there doesn t seem to be much we can do. There is now even more reason to reduce the amount of gas and electricity we use. In fact making just a few small changes in your home could cut your bills by up to 200 a year. Being more energy efficient will help save you money and the environment. This guide includes tips on improving your energy efficiency, information on switching energy suppliers and the help available, advice on dealing with condensation, and water saving tips for your home. Energy Saving Ideas Heating tips Remember to give radiators some space. Don t cover them with curtains or furniture. Set the temperature between 18 C 21 C and try turning your temperature down by 1 C as it could save you up to 10% a year on your heating bill. Make sure your hot water cylinder is set at 60 C. Any higher is a waste of energy and any lower there could be a risk of bacteria growth. If the top of your radiators are colder than the bottom, contact the Trust. Radiators should be bled every now and then in order to remove excess air, it will ensure the radiators are working as effectively as possible. This should only be done by the Trust s engineers. When it starts getting dark close curtains to the keep heat in. If possible, have a shower rather than a bath as the shower uses 3 times less hot water which will decrease your heating bill. Contrary to popular belief it is much more energy efficient to switch the heating on when you need it and off when you don t rather than having it on low all the time, so remember to switch it off. If you are going on holiday during the winter, programme your boiler to come on one hour a day. 2 3
Lighting Tips Use energy saving light bulbs. They use up to 80% less electricity and last about 10 times longer than standard bulbs. Remember to turn off lights when you leave a room. 15% of your electricity bill comes from lighting, you could save 20 a year. If you leave a light on overnight in your child s room or on a landing, use a low energy nightlight. They are cheap to buy and cost very little to run. In the Kitchen Cooking instructions always say preheat oven. Most modern ovens and especially fan assisted ovens don t need preheating so just turn it on and use it. Your saucepans will heat up faster if you cover them with a lid. Make sure the size of your pan matches the size of your hob ring so you re not wasting energy. When using the kettle, only boil as much water as you need but be sure to cover the kettles element so that it does not boil dry. You will save money on your bills if you use a toaster rather than the grill. Opening the oven to check food wastes energy. If your cooker has a glass vision panel keep it clean so you can see inside. Appliances Make sure the back of your fridge and freezers are kept clear so they work more efficiently. When buying new appliances choose products that have good energy rating. It could save you up to 50 a year. Always put a full load in the washing machine, and use the coldest temperature setting you can according to your manual. Some washing machines can operate at temperatures as low as 15 C. This will save you money. Never leave appliances on standby as they can still use as much as 80% of the energy. Always switch off at the socket. You can leave appliances like Sky or virgin boxes on as they are energy efficient. Always unplug chargers from the electrical socket when they re not in use as they still use the same amount of electricity as when they re plugged in. Use power down plugs. You can sometimes get them for free from your electricity supplier. Fuel Supplier and Consumer Tips Always check your bill before you pay it. Make sure the readings are accurate and not estimated by checking your meter box reading against the bill reading. A lot of suppliers give free energy smart monitors to their customers. These enable you to monitor your usage and also make you think about everything you use and whether you really need to use them. Always check with your supplier to see what energy saving offers are available to you as a customer. For example: grants, insulation measures, energy efficient appliances and cheaper tariffs. When changing suppliers always cancel your direct debit with your old supplier by calling your bank or using online banking (if 4 that s how you pay). 5
Water saving Tips Try to use the washing machine and the dishwasher only when you have a full load. Taking a shower rather than a bath could save you up to 400 litres of water. Depending on your water usage, using a prepayment meter could be cheaper. Contact Veolia water for more information. Turn off the tap while cleaning your teeth, shaving or washing your face. Over 6 litres of water a minute is wasted when it is left running. New water efficient showerheads save both energy and water in one simple device, however they cannot be fitted to electric shower. Install a water butt in the garden to collect rain water if you are a keen gardener. Fixing dripping taps helps reduce water consumption. Dealing with Condensation Condensation occurs where moisture from the air forms on a cold surface. Condensation is a common problem in UK. It is usually caused by the way we live and how energy efficient our homes are. Some examples are poor heating, lack of ventilation and too much moisture produced in the home. The good news is that we can control most of it. Prevention Tips Dry washing outside if possible, if not dry in the bathroom, open the window and close the door. Do not dry on radiators as this will only make your boiler work extra hard, cost you more and cause condensation. Ventilate rooms to decrease moisture in the air. Wipe down windows with a dry cloth if there is condensation present to prevent mould build up. Adequate heating will also prevent condensation from forming on surfaces. Paired with good ventilation this is the most effective way to stop condensation and mould growth. Always open windows in kitchens and bathrooms after or during use. If you have an extractor fan or cooker hood that will be better as there will be no cold wind. If your extractor fan is faulty contact the Trust. When filling your bath, run the cold water first and then add the hot water. This reduces steam by 90%. Make sure your home is well insulated for example loft and cavity wall insulation. Contact the Trust to find out what help or advice we can provide. Try not to overfill cupboards or wardrobes next to external walls and don t push furniture right up against the wall. 6 7
Changing supplier and tariff How to switch and where to find help Who can switch? Nearly everyone! You can change supplier even if you have a token, key or card meter and have debts up to 200 depending on your supplier. Remember to cancel your direct debit with your old supplier by calling your bank or using online banking when switching your supplier if that is your method of payment. Reasons for not being able to switch Most people will be able to switch their suppliers but there are times when changing may not be possible, for example If you have a fixed-term contract be aware that you may be charged a fee if you try to switch during the term. Most customers have contracts that allow them to switch supplier at any time without paying a penalty. Always read your contract before signing it. Depending on your supplier if you have unpaid debts you may have to clear the debt before you can switch. However, in some cases the unpaid debt could be transferred to a new supplier. Energy suppliers must now inform customers on their best tariffs As of autumn 2012 Energy suppliers will be obligated to inform their customers every year on the best tariffs, how it will benefit them and how to get it. The tariffs are not likely to be the cheapest but the best tariff for the individual customers based on their usage. The suppliers will only provide information on the tariffs they offer. Comparison sites approved by Consumer Focus: Comparison sites can search for best deals based on cheapest prices, capped price deals (fixed rate) or green tariffs and finally based on customer feedback. You could also receive added cash back or prizes from comparison sites. Comparison Website Telephone www.moneysupermarket.com 0845 345 1296 www.uswitch.com 0800 404 7961 www.saveonyourbills.co.uk 0800 055 3800 www.confused.com N/A www.homeadvisoryservice.co.uk 0845 1800 300 www.myhomeenergyswitch.org.uk 0800 051 5346 www.fuelswitch.com N/A If you have no internet access you can call Consumer Direct 08454 040506 who will send you a factsheet with the deals available in your area. They also provide free information and deal with enquiries and complaints about gas and electricity companies. The Energy Ombudsman also provides free information on complaints and enquiries about gas and electricity suppliers as well. Call on: 0845 055 0760 or 01925 530 263 or 03304 401 624. I believe that we as the customers still need to take responsibility and ownership on searching for the cheapest supplier and tariffs, and not rely on the suppliers. 8 9
How to switch Step 1 Phone the supplier You wish to change to and agree a new contract Step 2 When speaking to energy supplier make sure you confirm what deal you would like e.g. fixed rate Step 3 You will be sent a contract in the post check it s correct and the date you changed the supply Step 4 Ensure you have paid all outstanding bills with your current supplier and then cancel the direct debit If you are changing you should also ask the following questions Who will supply the fuel? Will I need new pipes or wires? How much will the fuel cost? How much is the standing charge? How long are the prices fixed for? How does the price vary with different payment methods? What is the cost of prepayment meters? What if I can t pay my bill? What if I owe my existing supplier money? Who takes care of gas safety? Who provides a new meter if I need one? Who deals with complaints? How long do contracts last? What about people with special requirements? Step 5 Take a meter reading on the day you change supplier so you can check your bills What happens next? The new supplier you choose will be responsible for organising the switch. The whole process can take up to 6-8 weeks. During that time your gas or electricity will continue to be supplied by your old supplier. You will not be cut off or be without gas or electricity whilst your supplier is being changed. If you re new supplier changes their prices during your switch over process it will affect you unless you chose the capped tariff (fixed deal) which has a fixed term. You have 7 working days to cancel the contract if you re not happy with it. If you don t want to switch supplier you could still make sure that you are on the best deal with your current suppler. Give them a call to find out. How to choose the best deal Before switching it is always important to decide what sort of deal suits you? The most common types are: Dual fuel: This is when you get gas & electricity from the same supplier under the same invoice. Many suppliers offer money off for this. Fixed rate: This means the price of the energy will not change for the duration of the contract which can be from 1 5 years. Internet deals: Suppliers offer discounts often up to 10% over the standard tariff, and you manage your bill online. For both the fixed rate and internet deals it may state that you can only switch to another deal after a fixed period. If you wish to switch before the set period you may have to pay a fee. 10 11
Direct debit payment and meter reading There are different ways to pay your gas and electric bills, but Direct Debit is the cheaper and the more convenient option in most cases. If you are currently paying by direct debit or thinking of paying by direct debit please consider the following. You could be saving up to 5% each time you receive your bill depending on suppliers. Do a meter reading every time you receive a bill. Otherwise you will either be under paying or end up with a huge bill to pay at the end of the year. Make sure meter reading on bills are Accurate (A) and not Estimated (E). Social Tariffs All suppliers offer some form of Social tariff with special rates and other measures which aim to cut the bills for vulnerable customers. They are currently voluntary and are offered to eligible customers regardless of their payment methods. Priority Service Register If you are elderly, disabled or chronically sick you should contact your supplier to make sure you are on their Priority Service Register. This entitles you to a range of free services including quarterly meter reading if you have difficulty reading the meter. Help available for those struggling to pay bills For people struggling to pay fuel bills and keep warm, there is a free phone helpline called the Home Heat Helpline that provides information on grants, benefits and payment schemes that you may be entitled to, as well as basic steps that can be taken to save money on heating bills by making your home more energy efficient. Home Heat Helpline 0800 33 66 99 More money saving tips Who you use, how you pay and your behavioural changes could cut your bills. Dual fuel should be the cheapest but it is recommended to check gas & electricity individually with different suppliers. Always read your meter on receipt of your bill if you have a standard meter. Internet tariffs will usually save you up to 10% over standard tariff. Changing fuel suppliers yearly could save you up to 250 on your annual fuel bill. Paying by direct debit could also save you money. Avoid pre payment meters if you can. You may have to pay to get a standard meter installed, but the savings are usually worth it. Often your suppliers may not let you change due to credit score or income difficulties. If this is the case you can try with other suppliers as they don t use or share the same system www.homeheathelpline.org.uk for checking eligibility. 12 13
It is better for you to have a standard meter rather than a prepayment meter. Prepaid meters are more expensive than the standard meter. If you have a prepayment meter in the property when you moved in, contact the current supplier and request for the meter to be changed. You may have to pay to get a standard meter fitted depending on suppliers. It is always good to call different suppliers to find out who can change it with no cost. Often you may not be able to change meters due to credit score or income difficulties. If this is the case you can try with other suppliers as they don t use or share the same system for checking eligibility. Loft insulation will decrease your heat loss by 25%. The recommended level is 270mm (12 inches) saving you around 45-145 per year on your heating bill. Make sure draught excluders are also put around the loft hatch. Cavity wall insulation will decrease your heat loss by 35%. It could save you up to 50-110 per year on your heating bill. Meter readings Please use the form below to fill in your current gas and electricity meter readings. If you re not sure how to read your meter, please refer to the how to at the bottom of this page. Gas meter readings current in 3 months in 6 months in 9 months Electricity meter readings current in 3 months in 6 months in 9 months How to read your meter Find your meter from the ones shown below and follow the examples given to see how to read your meter. Gas Digital metric meter Imperial meter Dial meter 2 9 8 8 2 This reading would be This reading would be This reading would be 00254 2988 6456 Electricity Single rate meter Two rate meter Dial meter 07220 This reading would be 07220 56315 27457 LOW NORMAL This reading would be 56315 & 27457 IGNORE THIS DIAL This reading would be 74496 14 15
Need more information? For any other questions or queries you may have please contact Jason Ademola, Energy Surveyor on 01923 209 000 or email on energymatters@wcht.org.uk. Please contact us on 01923 209 000 if you require this information in another format. Watford Community Housing Trust Gateway House, 59 Clarendon Road Watford, Hertfordshire WD17 1LA t: 01923 209 000 e: energymatters@wcht.org.uk w: www.wcht.org.uk 16 Watford Community Housing Trust has charitable status. It is an Industrial and Provident Society registration number 30183R and registered with Tenant Services Authority number L4495. EPC0712V2