Households ‘facing up to £136 annual energy bill hike’ from next month

Household bills will rise by £136 a year from next monthHousehold bills will rise by £136 a year from next month
Household bills will rise by £136 a year from next month
Many households are facing a shock rise in their energy bills in September, a price comparison site has warned.

A total of eight fixed-rate energy tariffs, including popular options from British Gas and EDF, are set to expire at the end of August, with customers automatically switched to their supplier’s standard rate tariff.

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Most will see their bills rise by an average of £77 a year as a result, but others are facing a far bigger hike, according to Gocompare.com.

“Households in the East Midlands and who are on the EDF Energy Blue+Price Promise August 2015 tariff will be hit the hardest, with a huge £136.59 (13.62%) rise when they are automatically switched to the EDF Energy standard tariff,” it said in a release.

While the switch will be bad news for most, it noted that some British Gas and Sainsbury’s Energy customers may actually see their bills fall by up to £60 when their tariff ends.

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The price comparison site recommends that all customers who find themselves on a standard tariff take the time to search for a cheaper deal online as this could slash their bills by up to £300.

Energy Saving Trust (EST) list of simple steps households can take to reduce their energy usage:

- Switch off standby

Save around £30 a year just by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode.

- Don’t waste water

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Using a bowl to wash up rather than a running tap can save £30 a year in energy bills, according to the EST.

Only filling the kettle with the amount you need will save a further £7, while reducing washing machine use by just one cycle per week will save £5.

- Spend less time in the shower

Spending one minute less in the shower each day will cut £10 off your energy bills each year, per person. With a water meter this will save a further £15 off annual water and sewerage bills.

- Turn off lights

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An obvious one, but EST says many people are still not in the habit of turning lights off after use. Doing so will save you a further £15 on your annual energy bills.

More detail on the EST’s saving tips can be found at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/domestic/energy-saving-quick-wins.