British Gas, EON, Octopus and OVO customers get £100 for a change | Personal Finance

Customers of major energy suppliers including British Gas, E.ON, Octopus Energy and OVO can shave £100 off their annual energy bill by making a simple switch at home.

Energy experts say adjusting your thermostat settings can result in huge savings, which is especially important now when household energy bills are expected to rise again in January.

Experts recommend turning your thermostat down by just one degree, and by doing so you can cut your energy bill by up to £100 a year.

The ideal temperature to set your heating is at least 18°C in winter to stay healthy and protect yourself from the cold, although older people may benefit from a slightly warmer temperature.

But even if your heating is normally set higher, around 22 or 21°C, simply lowering it by one degree will make a huge difference to your energy costs and won’t massively reduce the heat in your home.

Gordon Wallis, boiler expert at Your NRG, explained: “Small adjustments can lead to significant savings. By simply lowering your thermostat by one degree, households could save more than £100 a year.

“Keep your home thermostat above 14 degrees Celsius to prevent mold growth – a little higher in a tiled room. Anything below this threshold will encourage the development of humidity in your home, impacting your property and your well-being. »

Other completely free ways to keep your home warm include drawing your curtains and blinds when it starts to get dark, keeping your bedroom windows closed at night, and wearing layers of thinner clothing to stay warm. hot.

The advice comes ahead of a rise in energy bills in January as Ofgem increases its price cap, meaning the average household bill will rise by 1.2%.

The price rise will see the typical house bill in England, Scotland and Wales rise from £1,717 to £1,783 a year – or an extra £1.75 a month. This follows a previous 10% increase in October.

Ofgem has advised customers to take advantage of the growing choice among suppliers ahead of the increase and shop around for the best deal to help them reduce their bills, saying households could save up to £140.

Tim Jarvis, chief executive of markets at Ofgem, said: “We understand that the cost of energy remains a challenge for too many households. However, with new rates coming to the market, there are ways for customers to reduce their bill, so don’t hesitate to shop around and look at all the options.

“But in the short term, anyone struggling with bills should talk to their provider to make sure they’re getting the help they need and look around to make sure they’re getting the best deal and the most affordable for her.”