State pensioners losing Winter Fuel Payment being handed £170 off energy bill

State pensioners losing Winter Fuel Payment being handed £170 off energy bill

by · Birmingham Live

State pensioners losing Winter Fuel Payments can keep warm with a £170 heating change. You can save up to 10% on your energy by turning down the thermostat by just one degree. According to the experts the ideal temperature for your thermostat is 18C to 21C, as this will allow you to remain nice and cosy while keeping prices low.

The new energy price cap for the period of January to March 2025 is £1,738 per year for a typical household. This is a 1.2% increase from the previous cap of £1,717 for the period of October to December 2024. It means a 10 per cent saving would be £170.

When feeling cold, you may be tempted to turn your thermostat much higher in the hope it warms your home faster, however, this isn't the case and won't change the speed at which your home heats up. Instead you will just end up increasing energy costs as the heating will be running for longer.

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Andy Kerr, founder at BOXT, explained: "Using a home thermostat correctly can make a significant impact on your energy consumption and lower your bills. However, there are several mistakes consumers make which can prevent the thermostat from lowering overall energy costs.

"With the updated price cap, consumers will be paying more for the same amount of energy, meaning they will be looking for ways to cut their overall consumption. To help make energy bills more manageable this autumn and winter, we have shared 6 ways on how to properly use your thermostat to avoid your energy bills from skyrocketing."

He added how when heading out, you should be sure to lower the thermostat so you'll avoid wasting money on heating your property when you're out and about. The experts suggest investing in a programmable or smart thermostat will allow you to automatically control your home’s temperature, resulting in lower costs.