EDF Vitality recommends taking 4-minute showers to assist households save round £60 a yr on power payments amid the most recent Ofgem worth cap enhance
Many individuals are apprehensive about power payments this winter (Picture: Getty)
Numerous Brits are grappling with elevated power prices this winter after Ofgem’s current 0.2% worth cap adjustment, which got here on the heels of a 2% enhance spanning October by means of December. Nonetheless, EDF Vitality has highlighted a number of methods that would minimise monetary pressure, together with a easy behavior adjustment.
Whereas it’d seem overly easy, the power provider’s steerage primarily centres in your bathe length. Research point out that many individuals spend as much as 10 minutes washing throughout every session, however lowering this to 4 minutes might ship substantial power financial savings.
In a 2024 on-line energy-saving information, EDF defined: “Reducing your bathe time to 4 minutes can prevent round £60 a yr on power payments. Do you like baths? Contemplate swapping one bathtub every week for a shorter bathe or operating shallower baths to avoid wasting water.”
EDF Vitality is way from the one organisation advocating this strategy. Britain’s Vitality Saving Belief equally notes that trimming your bathe length won’t solely cut back expenditure however might protect roughly 17,000 litres of water yearly.
The Belief’s calculations differ considerably from EDF Vitality’s figures, suggesting that almost all houses might save roughly £45 per yr by taking four-minute showers. For households in Northern Eire, this potential saving might attain £65.
The Vitality Saving Belief defined on-line: “Shortening the time that you simply spend within the bathe will cut back the quantity of water that goes down the drain, in addition to saving you cash on the power used to warmth the water.”
READ MORE: ‘Primary motive’ boilers fail in winter and tips on how to examine it shortly
Each EDF Vitality and the Vitality Saving Belief supply numerous different suggestions for lowering power consumption past showering. One other essential suggestion considerations draught-proofing, which implies sealing gaps round doorways, home windows and chimneys to forestall warmth from escaping.
Thermal cameras show notably efficient for figuring out warmth loss in houses, as they gauge floor temperatures. Property homeowners can observe the most popular spots in purple and the good in blue.
Tackling widespread heat-loss areas equivalent to home windows, doorways, and skirting boards will help retain heat in your house for longer, minimising the necessity to enhance the heating. Households with versatile funds may also select knowledgeable thermal survey, costing roughly £300 for smaller properties and £750 for bigger ones.
For extra energy-saving suggestions, you possibly can head to EDF Vitality’s weblog right here and The Vitality Saving Belief’s web site right here.
What’s the power worth cap?
The power worth cap for England, Wales and Scotland rose by 0.2% between January 1 and March 31, 2026, which means typical dual-fuel households are paying round £1,758 yearly. While 0.2% might look like a small enhance, the brand new worth is £20 larger than the extent between January and March 2025.
Ofgem explains that its power worth cap is the ‘most quantity’ that power suppliers can cost you for every unit of power and the ‘normal cost’ in case you are on a normal variable tariff. Regardless of the overall estimate of what ‘typical’ households would possibly pay, the precise fee will fluctuate primarily based on components equivalent to your location, the kind of meter you’ve, and your fee technique.
Not everyone seems to be affected by Ofgem’s worth cap, however these on a default tariff who pay for electrical energy and gasoline by means of normal credit score, Direct Debit, a prepayment meter, or an Financial system 7 meter are typically affected.
Official steerage from Ofgem provides: “The precise quantity you pay will rely upon how a lot power your family makes use of, the place you reside and the kind of meter you’ve.
“You can pay much less to your power by altering your power tariff or fee sort. Discover out if you happen to can change or repair your tariff and tips on how to swap power provider. Inform your power provider if you happen to can not pay your payments. They have to make it easier to if you happen to ask. They might arrange a compensation plan or offer you emergency credit score.”
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