State pensioners who've lost £300 Winter Fuel Payment must unplug 'four items' next week

State pensioners who've lost £300 Winter Fuel Payment must unplug 'four items' next week
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


State pensioners who've lost the £300 Winter Fuel Payment have been told to unplug FOUR appliances before next week. Ofgem's new energy price cap, taking bills to £1,771, kicks in on October 1, taking bills up by £149 on average.

Ahead of the price cap hike, state pensioners have been told they could theoretically offset to the cost of the increase - and the axed £300 Winter Fuel Allowance - by being savvy around the home and unplugging appliances which guzzle energy.

Real estate expert and owner of Bramlett Residential, Eric Bramlett, has identified the top appliances you "should never" leave on standby. Instead, he stressed the need to power them down.

READ MORE UK households who have a sofa face fines 'up to £1,000' in September

Eric, an energy expert, has warned that leaving cable and set-top boxes on standby can be quite costly. He revealed: "A friend of mine found that unplugging their cable box when not in use made a difference in their monthly energy bills." These devices in standby mode consume power similar to game consoles.

Older appliances are also a guilty culprit because they become less efficient and start using more power, often due to malfunctioning parts. While it's not recommended to turn off such an appliance, upgrading to a newer, more efficient model could be a smart decision.

Microwave ovens, even when not in use, draw power just to keep the clock display running, he went on to add. However, you can save some energy by unplugging the microwave or using a power strip to switch it off, which could "lower your electricity bill" according to the expert.

And desktop computers are known for consuming more energy than laptops, so it's important to always turn them off completely. Eric advised: "Don't even get me started on those. Just shut them down when you're done using them and watch your bills melt away."