Tag Archive for: British Gas

A new report by British Gas has revealed that UK homeowners could save an average of £147 per year if certain appliances were turned off standby.

As we head into a recession, many of us are finding ways to cut costs, especially energy costs. Even with the Truss energy bill bailout, severe increases are expected and yet, according to research, almost one in five (16%) Brits are unaware that many household appliances use up electricity.

Only 44% of respondents occasionally switch appliances off, and over one in three (35%) said they wish they’d known devices were costing them money whilst on standby.

Every device that remains plugged in continues to draw power from the mains, adding to your energy bill. Have a look at the below list of devices and how much they cost to keep on standby per year:

  • Television – £24.61
  • Set top box/satellite – £23.10
  • Modem/internet router – £18.89
  • Microwave – £16.37
  • Games Console – £12.17
  • Computer – £11.22
  • Shower – £9.80
  • Smart speakers/smart home devices – £8.94
  • Dishwasher – £6.86
  • Tumble dryer – £4.79
  • Washing machine – £4.73
  • Printer – £3.81
  • Mobile device charger – £1.26

Top tip: switch them off.

For all your energy-related needs, contact the team at AACooper on 01689 485007 or info@aacooper.co.uk

Consumer champion Which? has revealed the results of its annual satisfaction survey, and small gas and electricity firms have trumped the Big Six!

After surveying 8,000 energy customers, 30 companies (covering more than 90 per cent of that market in England, Scotland and Wales) have been ranking according to customer satisfaction. The Big Six (British Gas, EDF Energy, Eon, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE) all sit in the bottom third of the table whilst smaller, newer suppliers occupy both the top and bottom positions, showing that a company’s size is no guarantee of its performance.

Five small suppliers topped the rankings, with only tiny margins separating the top five companies: first-placed Octopus Energy, Robin Hood Energy and So Energy in joint second place, and Ebico and Tonik Energy in joint fourth position. All of these firms were rated the full five stars for value for money. Plus among them are the only firms to get top marks for bill accuracy, bill clarity and online customer service.

Octopus, which supplies more than 400,000 homes, was rated as good or excellent value for money by nine in 10 customers and 96 per cent of its customers gave it the same rating for online customer service.

So Energy was rated good or excellent value for money by an impressive 93 per cent of its customers – the highest proportion of any firm included. Plus its customers were most likely to rate the accuracy of its bills good or excellent compared with any other firm included.

Two of the top five – Robin Hood Energy and Ebico – are not-for-profit, while So Energy and Tonik Energy sell only tariffs backed by 100 per cent renewable electricity.

Check out a full list of the top 10:

1. Octopus Energy
2. Robin Hood Energy
3. So Energy
4. Ebico
5. Tonic Energy
6. Ovo Energy
7. Utility Warehouse
8. Bristol Energy
9. Bulb Energy
10. Ecotricity

The Big Six ranked as follows: SSE(22), EDF/Eon(23), British Gas(26), Npower/Scottish Power(27). Which? found less than one in five (18 per cent) Big Six customers are very satisfied with their supplier, compared with a third (33 per cent) of customers with medium and small suppliers.

For the full results, including how customers rank their energy supplier’s customer service, value for money, bills, complaints handling and more, go to: www.which.co.uk/energy-table

For all your energy-related needs, contact the team at AACooper on 01689 485007 or info@aacooper.co.uk.

Winter’s on its way but that doesn’t mean that you have to succumb to the cold – certainly not in your own home. There are some really simple ways to keep the inside of your house toasty and warm. Check out these ten top tips from Britishgas.co.uk:

1.     Heat your home, not your walls – with some easy foil insulation. Cover a thin sheet of card with tinfoil and place it behind your radiators; it’ll reflect the heat back into your rooms, warming them faster and helping them retain heat.

2.     Pipe lagging (insulating hot water pipes with foam tubes) – keeps the water inside your pipes hotter for longer.

3.     Bleed your radiators – by releasing the trapped air at the top of the radiator you’ll be able to increase its efficiency.

4.     Get your boiler serviced – so that it will last longer end work more efficiently.

5.     Close the curtains – lots of warmth escapes through the windows in your home; keeping your curtains closed will trap some of the heat inside as opposed to letting it out.

6.     Heat the house with the oven – once you’ve cooked dinner leave the oven door open; the warmth will infiltrate your kitchen and slowly, the rest of your home.

7.     Roll out a carpet – if you’ve got wooden floors, putting down a carpet will cover up cracks and gaps and stop heat from escaping.

8.     Use insulation creatively –by using spray foam to insulate any cracks and gaps in your walls.

9.     Draught proof your home – if your home is draughty, patch it up! This will save you money (and keep you warm) in the long run.

10.  Figure out your ideal temperature – usually between 18 and 21 degrees. Then use your thermostat when necessary, to keep that temperature constant.

For more energy-related information, contact the team at AACooper
01689 485007 or info@aacooper.co.uk.

For more details on any of the aforementioned advice, read “10 easy tricks to keep your house warm this winter” on Britishgas.co.uk