British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON, Octopus customers with this rating on boiler handed £540

British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus customers can save £540 on their energy bills by ensuring their boiler is A-rated for efficiency. Households who do a boiler audit ahead of autumn and winter could ensure they are saving HUNDREDS.

Andy Kerr, from BOXT, urged households to consider lowering the thermostat. The expert assures that a minor adjustment won't turn homes into iceboxes. He advised: "Turning your thermostats down by just 1C from the current average temperature of 20C could save you over £100 per year on energy bills, without noticing too much of a difference in the temperature of your home."

"With options such as a hot water cylinder jacket, which you can fit yourself and costs around £15, you can quickly start making improvements," he said. Households can be handed £540 back if they ensure their boiler is efficient, too.

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He explained: "All new and modern boilers have to be A-rated for efficiency. Older systems often have an efficiency rating as low as 60% - meaning 40% of the energy that you pay for is simply wasted! As a consequence, they have to work harder to produce the same heat, and some won't even be able to reach the levels of new boilers.

"This puts a bigger strain on the old system, causing issues and higher energy bills." He explained: "With the rising cost of living, smart metres can help to eliminate inaccurate bills, as they feedback directly to your energy supplier, meaning you shouldn't get an unexpectedly high bill."

Without a room thermostat, your boiler could continue to burn gas even when your home is warm enough already. Thermostats help you control the temperature of your home so it's just right for you. If the temperature drops, the heating will turn on. And if it gets too hot, it'll turn it off. They also let you choose the times you want your heating to come on.