British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON, Octopus customers with thermostat in hallway handed free £173

British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus customers are being handed a free £173 for a heating change. The Ofgem energy price cap for January 2025 was £1,738 per year for households paying by Direct Debit - but customers can save 10 per cent or £173 by utilising a one second tip.

My Local Toolbox founder Adam Clark has issued a TikTok clip, saying: “According to Energy.gov, you’re not saving on your heating bill by keeping it at a constant 68 degrees. Do this instead!” He said: “A property’s heat loss is proportional to the temperature difference between the inside and the outside of your home.

"Leaving your heating on all day will mean that most of the heat is lost to the outside of the home. As a result, you’ll use more energy to maintain that consistent temperature versus only heating your home when you feel you need to. Turning your heating on and off as required is almost always more energy efficient.”

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Mr Clark explained: “Turning up your thermostat doesn’t speed up heating; it just makes your boiler work harder to reach a higher temperature, often wasting energy.” He said: “Electric heaters can be useful for small spaces, but they’re generally more expensive than gas-powered central heating systems.

He also explained how bleeding radiators or draught-proofing, are low-cost DIY solutions, while others, like insulation or a smart thermostat, can also massive help households save cash as the Cost of Living crisis continues up and down the country.

Speaking out as the price cap continues to bite customers hard in the pocket and wallet, he added: “While there is some upfront cost to installing better insulation or upgrading your boiler, these improvements pay for themselves over time in reduced energy bills. In addition, many energy-saving improvements can raise the value of your property.”