UK households can cancel energy price cap rise by tackling 'vampire devices'

UK householders are being alerted to an easy way to beat the impact of the new Ofgem price cap. People in England, Scotland and Wales will this week see the average bill rise by around £149 a year from the current £1,568 for a typical dual-fuel household.

Ofgem’s announcement of a 10 per cent rise in the energy price cap to a new level of £1,717 will lead to an approximate monthly increase of £12 for 27 million households across the UK. However, the price cap isn't a maximum limit on household bills but instead sets the price per unit of gas and electricity.

As a result, some households might see lower bills, while others could face even higher costs after October 1. However, you could offset the rise almost completely by tackling the 'hidden' energy consumption in your home, experts said.

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Renewable energy surveyor Sean Slawson, of Geo Green Power, explained that so-called vampire devices are all too real. He said: "Devices in standby mode still consume energy, and reducing this can lead to surprising savings. Televisions, computers, and gaming consoles are major contributors to so-called 'vampire' energy consumption.

"Research shows Brits could save an average of £147 per household annually by switching off 'vampire devices' - those that continue to drain power when left on standby - when they are not in use. To reduce vampire energy, get into a habit of unplugging devices or use smart power strips that cut power automatically. You can also check if your TV has energy-saving features like automatic shut-off or screen dimming to help lower your energy bill."

Mr Slawson is also encouraging more people to start thinking about a switch to renewable energy that makes you less reliant on energy providers, protects you from price hikes and lowers your bills. Even during the winter months a household with solar panels will be generating their own energy and using less from the grid, he said, and on average a UK home will save around £1,000 a year after installing a solar PV system, also known as solar cells.

He explained: "It's never been cheaper to install solar. The energy crisis created huge global demand and manufacturing of solar panels and other installation materials significantly increased. The result has been a significant dip in the cost of a solar PV system. If you received a quote to install solar a year or so ago, I strongly recommend you revisit."

As well as reducing electricity bills, installing solar panels reduces your carbon footprint, something which is becoming more important to UK households as awareness of the climate crisis increases.

He says it's also worth looking at heat pumps for saving on energy usage. Sean explained: "If creating a sustainable home is important to you, consider switching to a heat pump. Heat pumps capture heat from the air, ground or water and boost the temperature to provide heat and hot water. Not only are they environmentally friendly, they are highly energy efficient, have a long lifespan and you may be eligible to receive a Government grant to help cover installation costs through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme."

Ofgem's price cap will change again in January. Householders should note that it does not limit total bills because people still pay for each unit of gas and electricity they use. The figures released for the amount paid under the cap are calculated for an average-use household and if more energy than average is used, a household will receive bills that are above the level of the cap.

The energy regulator says it is currently considering the future of price protection, including the suitability of the price cap and a potential permanent ban on so-called acquisition tariffs – cheaper prices for new customers to lure them away from their existing suppliers. Cornwall Insight is calling for a reform of the price cap or introduction of social tariffs, but has warned longer-term solutions were also vital.

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