How much it costs to run an electric fan in UK heatwave | Personal Finance | Finance
Using an electric fan to stay cool during the heatwave currently baking the UK may cost less than you think. Large parts of the country saw the mercury rise well above 30C over the weekend, and the mercury looks set to remain high in the days ahead.
In a new update, the Met Office said for today (Monday, May 25) the “highest temperature is expected in an area covering Lincolnshire, the Midlands, western parts of East Anglia and southwards into the London area” where 35C is forecast. Meanwhile, temperatures in excess of 30C are expected “from southern parts of northern England southwards and westwards into eastern Wales”. Tuesday is also set to be “very hot” with a peak of 35C expected in London, the Home Counties and Cambridgeshire. The national weather service says the heat is forecasted to continue throughout the week “with highs of 31C forecast for Wednesday, 30C on Thursday, 27C on Friday and 28C on Saturday”.
Several parts of the UK have officially seen heatwave conditions, defined by the Met Office as when a location “records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold”.
Many Britons will be heavily relying on electric fans to stay cool this week, and like any other heavy-use appliance, it will add to your electricity bill.
However, according to MoneySavingExpert.com, a typical 12-inch 35-watt desk fan will cost under 1p an hour based on the current price cap, which came into effect on April 1.
Many households will have them on throughout the night to counteract the humidity, and MSE says doing so would cost around 7p with those rough specifications.
Even a big 50-watt tower fan won’t break the bank, costing a little over 1p per hour, while a large floor fan, which typically ranges between 10 and 120 watts, will cost around 3p per hour, according to the personal finance site.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Steve Kocher, said: “It is likely that the May and Spring UK temperature records will be broken over the Bank Holiday weekend, with forecast temperatures surpassing the existing record of 32.8°C.
“As well as it being hot, there will be lots of dry and sunny weather for much of the UK.”
The national weather service announced that temperatures hit 33.5C at Heathrow today, setting a new all-time May record.
Amber and yellow heat health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in place across the country, with the sweltering temperatures expected to bring a “rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions” and added pressure on health services.
You can find UKHSA guidance on how to stay safe during hot weather here.
