British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON, Octopus customers who stick to eight-hour rule being handed free £184

British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON, Octopus customers who stick to eight-hour rule being handed £184
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus customers who stick to a eight-hour rule are being handed £184 off their energy bills. John Small, a Home Energy Expert at Ty Eco has shared how a simple change can help households lower their energy use and save money at the same time.

When it comes to tumble dryers, high street giant Currys put the average cost of a cycle at £1.54, adding up to a shocking £184 a year. But running your tumble dryer during off-peak hours can significantly lower the cost of your electricity bill.

John said: “Economy or time-of-use tariffs can help you reduce the cost of appliances like a tumble dryer by offering cheaper rates for energy used during off-peak hours. For instance, British Gas offers Economy 7 tariffs and two rate meters, with energy used between 12-8 am costing significantly less.

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"They also offer PeakSave Sundays, where electricity between 11 am and 4 pm is half-price. Another popular energy provider, Ovo, offers two money-saving plans. With Off-Peak E, you get 8 hours at the cheapest rate for stored heat each day, while Off-Peak F provides 10.5 hours a day at lower prices.”

He added: “With this in mind, I recommend scheduling your tumble drying overnight to save money. Most dryers have a ‘delay’ function, allowing you to schedule it for a couple of hours before you wake up, so your clothing isn’t sitting damp for hours overnight.”

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An Economy 7 tariff could help you save money if you use more electricity at night, for example for electric storage heaters, or to charge an electric vehicle (EV). Available on- and off-peak rates may vary, so you should shop around for the right deal.

If you don’t use much electricity at night, then you’re likely to be better off on a single rate tariff. To help make sure your bills are accurate, you’ll need an electricity meter which records peak and off-peak consumption separately. This could be a special two-rate (or ‘dual-rate’) meter, or a smart meter that’s capable of offering different rates during different periods.

If you’re on an Economy 7 tariff already and do not think you have the correct meter, contact your supplier as soon as possible.