State pensioners handed £238 for unplugging kitchen item after Winter Fuel Payment axe | Personal Finance | Finance

Households can save hundreds of pounds a year by reducing the usage of certain appliances at home, new calculations show.

Large appliances can use a significant amount of energy when in use, but it’s not always possible to turn them off completely. By mapping out the appliances you have, versus how much money they cost to run, you can weigh up which ones you can afford to reduce the usage of.

This is a particularly important step for those looking to make some savings before the energy price cap increases again by 10 percent on October 1, up to £1,717 for an average customer.

With the Government narrowing the eligibility criteria for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Winter Fuel Allowance benefit, this also could be a way to make some of the payment back for the state pensioners who are newly missing out.

New calculations by Utilita show that, by avoiding using the tumble dryer, households could reduce their energy bills by as much as £238 a year.

According to the energy supplier’s ‘Power Price List’, an average tumble dryer costs 53p per use. It then went on to show that those who use it five times a week would save £139 a year if they stopped.

The savings would naturally increase for those who use it more, doubling to £238 if used twice a day.

It could also be worth switching up different appliances for cooking, as Utilita’s data compares the difference in cost between ovens, air fryers and slow cookers.

According to Utilita, an average electric cooker cost 59p per use, a dual cooker costs 50p per use, and a gas cooker appears to cost the lowest of three at 20p per use.

Annually, the electric and dual cooker cost a hefty £109 and £92.72 respectively, while the gas cooker comes in at a more affordable £36.67.

However, some appliances cost even less. Utilita’s calculations show an air fryer, for example, costs just 17p per use, which amounts to £31.18 annually.

Meanwhile, a slow cooker costs 19p per use, amounting to an average of £35.33 annually.

Explaining the Power Price List, a statement from Utilita reads: “By being able to view the average usage costs of common household appliances, you can compare the findings against similar items in your home. With an understanding of typical costs, you can determine whether your appliances are running the way they should be and whether or not it’s worth replacing the item.

“Not only that, but knowing where to reduce your energy will help lower your carbon footprint.”