Octopus Energy says get £65 back with 4 minute change | Personal Finance | Finance
Octopus Energy says customers can get up to £65 back on their energy bills by making a four minute change.
The energy supplier has said making a simple switch to your shower habits can actually result in big savings.
According to the firm, limiting your shower time to just four minutes per day can save the typical household in England, Scotland and Wales £60 per year, while homes in Northern Ireland can save up to £65 annually.
If you’re partial to a long soak in the tub, it’s worth giving up your bubble bath at least once a week in favour of a shower to save money.
The Energy Saving Trust says swapping just one bath a week with a four minute shower can save you £9 a year on your energy bills in England, Scotland and Wales, and £10 in Northern Ireland.
Of course giving up long showers isn’t for you, then you could opt to install a water-saving shower head instead to help cut costs.
According to Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert (MSE), you can get one of these fitted for free in England and Wales if you’re not on a water meter, and this can save a typical household around £50 a year.
In addition, turning the shower off while using shampoo, soap or shower gel and then switching it back on to rinse is a free and easy way to save on both energy and water. You’ll also heat less water by doing this which helps towards cutting costs, as well as your water usage.
And for those brave enough, you could also opt to take a cold shower as this will reduce your energy usage and time spent in the shower – it’s also said to have physical and mental health benefits too.
Now is the perfect time to start putting cost-saving measures in place as energy bills will rise again from January 1 when the Ofgem price cap goes up by 1.2%. The increase will see the average household bill in England, Scotland and Wales go up from £1,717 per year to £1,738.
The price cap doesn’t limit your total bills as you must pay for the amount of energy you use, so households should be aware that if your usage is above the average, then you’ll pay more.