UK households urged not to use oven or microwave after 4pm
UK households have been warned over using their home appliances and kitchen devices after 4pm. British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus customers have been warned over using the likes of their oven and microwaves after 4pm.
"What we are seeing now is not sustainable,” warns CEO and co-founder of Make My House Green, Llewellyn Kinch. He added: “Those of us in the energy industry have to do what we can to help the public adopt new techniques, such as this one, to save money - and the environment.”
Mr Kinch also warned over time-of-use tariffs. A time-of-use (TOU) tariff is an electricity pricing structure that varies the cost of energy based on the time of day or day of the week. TOU tariffs are designed to encourage consumers to use electricity when it's cheaper and more available.
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British Gas - PeakSave offers one of the longest off-peak windows (9pm - 4pm, at a rate from 9p/kWh), ideal for those who are at home during the day, allowing for more flexibility in managing your energy usage.
“This information can typically be found on your monthly bill or the utility’s website, where they outline cheaper night-time usage rates,” Kinch says. “Once you've identified these lower-cost periods, you can adjust your energy usage habits to take advantage of them.”
To encourage you to use less electricity during peak times, a time of use tariff will charge you a higher price for any electricity used in this period. It will also charge a lower price during lower demand, off-peak periods.
To sign up to a time of use tariff, you’ll need a smart meter. To benefit, you’ll also need to be able to move your electricity use to off-peak periods. Many people on these tariffs have a battery that they charge with lower priced electricity and use it when prices are higher.
Mr Kinch said: “Opting for energy-efficient alternatives like the air-fryer or induction cooktop can make a substantial difference in your monthly bills but I understand it’s not always practical to air-dry your clothes, so In those moments use the tumble dryer but the small changes will make a big impact on your bills."