Tips from an Electrician: How to Cut Electric Bills

With energy prices hiking rapidly in 2022, there's no denying that we're all looking to cut our gas and electric bill costs as much as possible. A typical household in Great Britain will, on average, pay around £2500 a year for their energy bill from October 2022.

In light of the Global Energy Crisis, we've spoken to our most trusty electricians, who have passed on their top tips for cutting electric bills especially for you.

1. Get an energy assessment

It's always best to be aware of your current energy usage. You can find this out through getting an electrician to perform an energy audit on your property. This is a form of inspection survey completed by a trained electrician, where they will analyse the energy flows for energy conservation within your building.

This will determine your property's current energy efficiency, and it will highlight where the problem areas are, and which appliances use the most electricity. Once you've determined this, you will be able to research avenues to prevent excessive energy output within these appliances.

This may be through installing an energy-efficient alternative or through changing your energy habits and behaviours.

Read More: Why is Energy Efficiency Important?

2. Replace incandescent bulbs with LEDs

Since September 2009, the UK government have been attempting to phase-out all 'high-energy' light bulbs. The plan has been going smoothly since, with filament and halogen light bulbs slowly disappearing from the shelves for public use, but incandescent bulbs are still available to buy until August 2023.

Incandescent bulbs are one of the worst high-energy bulbs out there. This is because nearly 90% of the energy that it uses to power itself is converted to heat instead of light - meaning that a lot of energy is wasted in the process of using these bulbs within your home.

A brilliant alternative is to replace high-energy bulbs with LEDs. They are capable of turning around 70% of their energy into light, making them much more efficient than other bulbs.

3. Research around energy-saving appliances

Our homes are energy-hungry environments, and they often use more electricity than they need! By investing in energy-saving appliances, you will see a reduction in your electric bill in no time. 

The most common energy-consuming appliances in 2022 are:

• Kettle (6p to boil 2l of water)
• Fridge (9p per day)
• Microwave (7p every 10 minutes of use)
• Dishwasher (36p per hour of use)
• Toaster (4p for 10 minutes of use)
• Shower (37p for a 10 minute shower) 
• Tumble Dryer (£1.20 per cycle) 
• Washing Machine (60p for one hour of use)

Take a read of this insightful blog for energy-saving tips for each appliance.

4. Reduce your phantom energy usage

Phantom energy has it all in the name...it's scary, and it creeps up on you without you noticing! Phantom energy does what it says on the tin - it's energy used in the background that slowly increases. Phantom energy comes from the always-on electronics that we often forget about, or leave on standby mode. 

Common devices that waste electricity through phantom energy use include: TVs, surround sound systems, stereos, games consoles, computers, monitors, phone chargers and printers.

5. Get an electrician to conduct PAT tests

If you have any faulty appliances in your property, they may be using more electric than they should be. You can get PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) testing conducted by a trained electrician to ensure that your appliances are safe for use. Through conducting a PAT test, an electrician will also be able to identify appliances that need replacing, which could save you money on your bills. 

Learn a Trade: PAT Testing Course

Are you ready to take the next step?

For more information on our electrician courses for adult learners, click the buttons below and kickstart your new career today. 

Our Electrical Training Courses      Get In Touch

Learn your trade. Get qualified. Make it happen. 

Read More: Becoming an Electrician at 40