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

Make sure you're not overlooking appliances that are using domestic power even while not in use

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, which 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 rather 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. Sean added: "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."

Meanwhile, energy consultancy Cornwall Insight has offered hope of some respite for British householders in the new year when it expects the typical household's energy bill to drop to an annual £1,697 from January 1. Ofgem changes the price cap every three months based on several factors, the most important of which is the price of energy on wholesale markets.

The energy price cap was introduced by the Government in January 2019 and sets a maximum price that energy suppliers can charge consumers in England, Scotland and Wales for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy they use.

The price cap does not limit a household's total bills because people still pay for each unit of gas and electricity they use – the figures provided are calculated for an average-use household and if more energy than average is used, a household will pay above the cap.

Ofgem 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 supplier. Cornwall Insight is calling for a reform of the price cap or introduction of social tariffs, but warned longer-term solutions were also vital.

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