Octopus, British Gas, OVO, EDF issues £62 warning to customers with washing machine

British Gas, EDF, OVO and Octopus customers have been told the cheapest time to use a washing machine. Washing machines are a household appliance thousands and millions up and down the country will use and utilise every single day.

But is there a way to reduce usage and cut bills? The Ofgem energy price cap will fall again in July, with a brand new rate coming into force up and down the country during the seventh month of the year. Ahead of that, some of the UK's largest suppliers have shared details over how to cut costs.

Deyan Dimitrov is the CEO of Laundryheap and says that putting a wash on early in the morning can cut costs. But Mr Dimitrov also said this depends on the type of tariff that you are on. He said: "Depending on your energy tariff, demand for electricity can greatly impact your energy bill. This means that the time you choose to run your washing machine and tumble dryer can greatly affect your spending. When drying or washing clothes, make sure to avoid any time between 4pm and 7pm, as this is the most popular and expensive period.

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"If possible, I would recommend using the time delay setting on your washing machine, as this function allows you to control when a washing cycle starts. Given that energy prices are at their lowest between 10pm and 5am, I would advise scheduling your washing machine to run into the early hours of the morning. Doing this can help you to significantly cut down energy costs."

Octopus

Octopus warns: "Air dry, don’t tumble dry. You could save: £62. Ditching the tumble dryer and drying your clothes on a washing line or clothes horse could save you £62 a year according to the Energy Savings Trust. Avoid drying clothes on radiators – this makes your boiler work harder."

The company, which sells green electricity from windfarms and solar panel, has the most sophisticated of these new charging regimes under its so-called Agile tariff.

Customers signed up to the scheme are sent an alert at the end of each day to provide details of the next day's tariffs, identifying those hours when power will be cheapest.

British Gas

British Gas says: "Peak electricity, or ‘peak electricity hours’ are the times of day or night when people use more electricity as they get ready for work or school and then return in the evening. Off-peak electricity also known as ‘off-peak electricity hours’ are quieter periods when people use less electricity and grid demand is lower - usually overnight, on weekends and during peak holiday periods. Some suppliers reward customers with cheaper electricity during off-peak hours.

"Using electricity at night, for example to charge your electric vehicle or run Economy 7 storage heaters, can be cheaper with time-of-use, or off-peak electricity rates and tariffs - particularly if you also shift energy-intensive tasks like doing the laundry or charging appliances to the cheaper off-peak times. Off-peak hours can vary between suppliers, where you live and the time of year. For our Economy 7 tariffs and two rate meters, the cheaper night-time rate runs for 7 hours between midnight and 8am."

EDF

EDF Energy says: "You'll have a higher day rate, and a cheaper night rate, which applies for seven to nine hours between 8pm and 8am. These meters are often installed in properties that use electricity (rather than gas) for heating and hot water."

OVO

OVO explains: "Unless you have a multi-rate tariff (Economy 7 or similar), then you are charged the same rate for energy use whenever you use it. If you are thinking more about the greenest time to use, then that changes daily but it is generally overnight (midnight -7am)

"You can see the latest forecast beneath your usage on the app."

EON

The times for off-peak electricity vary depending on your meter, however it is normally a 7 hour window between 11pm - 8am, for example 11pm - 6am. If you're not sure when your off peak rate starts get in touch with your energy supplier.