Today I’m sharing 5 ways to reduce your household electricity bill. After the economic uncertainty of a pandemic stricken 2020 and 2021, 2022 has seen an unsurprising rise in the cost of living in the UK. This is thanks to record levels of inflation, which has risen to its highest rate in 30 years in 2022 with an expected increase to over 8% later this year. In an effort to curb inflation, the Bank of England has raised interest rates to 0.75%, hitting borrowers hard. 

Unfortunately, the huge rise in global gas prices and the Russian invasion of Ukraine has also resulted in an increase in the energy price cap by a whopping 54% – and a budget busting £693 – from 1 April 2022. This means many of us will need to tighten our belts even further when it comes to our living expenses. The bad news is that the cost of fuel may rise again in October when the energy cap is next due to be reviewed. 

Ways to Reduce Your Household Electricity Bill

So, what can we do to keep on top of our living costs? Here are our top five ways to reduce your household electricity bill.

Think About Your Energy Consumption

By simply switching off lights when you leave a room and unplugging appliances when not in use rather than leaving them on standby, you save both money (around £40 a year) and the planet. So it’s a bit of a no-brainer.

Many of the latest smart gadgets also have an inbuilt system to detect when you are no longer using the device and automatically turn off, but it’s worth unplugging those which have standby mode.

As well as unplugging appliances, you could consider installing solar panels to generate your own electricity. This is a big investment, but may be worth considering. Chances are, this is more likely to be worthwhile if your home is in a sunny location. If your roof is shaded by large trees, it’s probably not worth investing in.

If you’re about to replace the roof on your home, another thing to consider is choosing the best roof for solar panel installation. That way, your home is more likely to be future proof. Solar panels have come a long way in the past 25 years, so hopefully even less sunny locations will have the option of generating enough energy via solar panels in the next decade or so.

Lower the Temperature 

Keeping that thermostat at 17 degrees saves you in both energy consumption and fuel costs. Modern thermostats also have the option of programming various temperature settings depending on the time of day or the season and allow you to set them remotely. This way, you aren’t heating an empty home when you are away but can have the place warm and cosy ready for your return. This will only reduce your household electricity bill if you don’t have gas central heating, of course.

When it comes to laundry, sticking to a lower, 30-degree wash can cut your energy bill by about £28 a year as well.

Reduce Your Water Use

Your washing machine and tumble drier are both big offenders when it comes to water consumption. Using clothes horses or hanging your washing up to dry outside (weather permitting!) can save you an impressive £60 a year or more. Only using the amount of water you actually need for that cuppa when you boil the kettle will also conserve both water and your pennies. Letting your hair dry naturally rather than using a hairdryer is also a good way to reduce your household electricity bill.

When it comes to personal washing, shower fans (especially those who stick to a speedier shower of around 4 minutes) save both a considerable amount of water wastage and money off their utility bill. This is when compared to those who prefer a regular soak in a full, piping hot tub. (I’m guilty of having a long, hot bath)! Be mindful that an electric shower will use a lot more electricity than a bath will. So keep them short to reduce your household electricity bill.

Easy fixes to reduce your water use include using a washing up bowl for the sink to reduce water use. running taps, whether it be when washing up, brushing your teeth or shaving can also waste a considerable amount of water. A cistern displacement device for the toilet, or a regulated shower head also reduce water consumption. For outdoors, consider a water butt, hosepipe spray guns and water saving gels for your plants.

Use Renewably Powered Devices

You might not want to go the whole hog and install costly solar panels on your roof, particularly if you are renting the property, but there are a number of solar powered replacements you can easily incorporate into every day life. From phone chargers, headphones and computer keyboards to outdoor options like solar powered gate openers, security cameras or bricks which light up your garden for those alfresco evenings, the sky is quite literally the limit.

Solar garden lights, water features and security camera and lights are affordable options, and a great way to reduce your household electricity bill.

Make Energy Efficient Home Repairs and Upgrades  

Whilst the outlay can of course be pricey, the costs of energy efficient upgrades can be recouped via the savings you make on your energy bills. If you need to replace old, draughty windows, poor roof insulation or an ancient creaking boiler anyway, looking at the most energy efficient options like double or even triple glazing or a combi or condensing boiler makes the most sense. For an inexpensive but worthwhile switch, consider LED lighting in place of more inefficient halogen bulbs.

It is also worth weighing up the pros and cons of switching to electric central heating to reduce your gas bill. While this won’t reduce your household electricity bill, it may be cheaper to heat your home this way.

Making your home more efficient not only reduces your household electricity bill, but it can have the added benefit of improving your energy performance certificate rating. An energy performance certificate, more commonly known as an EPC, estimates the energy efficiency of your home on a scale rated from A (most efficient) to G (very inefficient).

When you sell or let out a property, you must have a valid EPC and the better the EPC rating, the more attractive your property will be to potential buyers. If you are renting a property to new or existing tenants, as of April 2018 and 2020 respectively, it has been a legal requirement to have an EPC rating of E or higher. 

Finally, now you’ve learnt how to reduce your household electricity bill, why not check out these money saving ideas!