The Government wants you to choke on bills. The energy you release as you fight for breath can be harnessed to feed the rich. Read about how to make that slightly less likely.
Electricity is still one of the biggest pressure points on household budgets.
Even though prices are lower than the worst of the energy crisis, they are still high enough that waste adds up fast.
From 1 April to 30 June 2026, the Ofgem price cap for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit is £1,641 a year, with electricity charged at an average 24.67p/kWh and the average electricity standing charge at 57.21p a day. The cap limits unit rates and standing charges, not your total bill, so the more electricity you use, the more you pay.
That means the households doing best right now are not the ones waiting for prices to magically improve. They are the ones using less electricity, using it at cheaper times, and getting more control over where it comes from.
Here is how to do exactly that.
Here’s a tip: More and more people are switching to battery storage systems to benefit from lower off-peak tariffs, significantly cutting down their energy costs. Discover how you can start saving today - click here to learn more!
🎥 Learn how you can save money by trading in your old boiler for a new, efficient model in our YouTube video below:
The quickest ways to cut your electricity bill
If you want the fastest wins, start here:
run washing machines and dishwashers more efficiently
use the tumble dryer less
stop leaving appliances on standby
control electric hot water properly
shift usage to off-peak hours where possible
replace old bulbs with LEDs
reduce heat loss if your home uses electric heating
consider battery storage if you can benefit from cheaper overnight electricity
None of that is complicated. The key is doing the obvious things properly and then stacking bigger savings on top.
[1] Use wet appliances properly
Starting with these key energy-consuming appliances, we recommend running your washing machine at 30° and loading it as much as possible.
These are examples of ways to improve your energy efficiency, which is a key way to reduce your electric bills by an estimated
Like with your washing machine, it’s best to ensure your dishwasher is full or close to full before running it
Although just be careful not to leave it too long either, in case of bacterial growth. It’s a matter of balance really.
Moreover, running your dishwasher at a lower temperature can also reduce your electricity bills.
[2] Cut back on the tumble dryer
If you can, avoid or limit using the tumble dryer as much as possible.
They are one of the most expensive appliances to run - on average around £55 a year.
Instead, consider using an iron maiden, otherwise called a drying rack in the winter and an outdoor maiden during the summer months.
You can check out the running costs of appliances here.
[3] Optimise Your Fridge and Freezer Temperatures
Ideally, your fridge should have a temperature between 3°C and 5°C, while your freezer should probably have a temperature of -18°C.
However, you should double-check with your manufacturer guide to find out what the optimal temperature is.
Using the best temperatures for your fridge and freezer can improve energy efficiency.
[4] Opt for a Shower Instead of A Bath
Please note that this step only applies to people that are using electric water heating, however, if you use gas for water heating, you will still find it cheaper to use the shower instead of a bath.
Another way of lowering your electricity bills is to shower instead of using a bath.
Naturally, baths use more energy to heat up water than simply taking a shower.
If you already shower, you could shorten the length of your time in the shower.
Spending less time in the shower can help, in fact, spending just 4 minutes in there could save a typical home £65 a year on their energy bills.
If your bathroom comes with a power shower, you could dial down the pressure as another way of lowering your energy consumption.
Energy Help Guides:
[5] Use Appliances More Efficiently
Here are some basic tips that cover appliance use in most UK households:
Turn off wall plug sockets when the relevant appliance is not being used
Instead of using a tumble dryer, try drying your clothes on a clothesline or clotheshorse if feasible. Alternatively, you could take a hybrid approach (i.e., use the tumble dryer some days and clothesline/clotheshorse at other times)
Defrost your fridge and freezer approximately once every six months. Of course, you’ll need to take appropriate steps when doing so, such as doing so when you are low on freezer food or/and are prepared to use what is left. If in doubt as to what this entails, see the manufacturer’s guidebook
Make sure you shut down your PC/laptop each night and ensure it’s using the power-saving mode for when its battery runs low
If you currently have a small budget to spare, you could:
Replace your existing light bulbs with energy-efficient light bulbs such as LED bulbs. Trading traditional light bulbs for LEDs could save you £20 a year.
Buy an air fryer and use it to cook foods that are suitable for air fryer cooking
For related information, check out our blog discussing how much energy/electricity different household appliances use.
Electric Water Heating Tips
Most homeowners use a gas boiler to heat their homes and for the supply of hot water.
However, if you use an electricity-based heater, like an immersion heater, there are steps you can take to reduce your electricity bills by using your immersion heater in the right ways or even making adjustments.
In most cases, you only want to run your immersion heater for an hour or two a day depending on your needs.
If you use an electric shower, less than two hours of usage should suffice to cover your hot water needs for the day.
Next, you should consider whether you are paying more than you should be.
If you are on an economy 7 or economy 10 tariff, the price of electricity is typically much cheaper during off-peak hours, so it’s helpful to try and limit your use to this window.
This is particularly helpful if your home uses an immersion heater to heat water. You can easily set your thermostat timer to reap the rewards of certain energy tariffs.
For example, customers on the Economy 7 tariff can set their timer to only switch the heater on during off-peak hours
You can also insulate your immersion heater; in which case your water will stay hot for several hours after it has been turned off.
An insulating jacket that is no less than 80mm in thickness. Also, the hot water pipes should come with foam insulation.
You can easily find out the tariff you are on by asking your energy provider.
If your immersion heater doesn’t meet these expectations, you could hire a professional to add these for you, with a total supply cost of around £30 to £40.
Exclude Draughts & Insulate Your Home
Another approach worth considering is preserving heat and preventing heat loss.
For example, a quarter of heat is lost via the roof in an uninsulated home.
So installing a layer of insulating material in your attic can make a significant impact, helping to keep the heat in your home for longer, potentially reducing your central heating use and therefore energy bills.
Looking at curtains, you should pull them over at night in order to keep the heat in.
Of course, you should do the exact opposite during the day and let the sun heat your home.
Only take this approach when it’s cold and you should still open your windows when suitable for ventilation and to prevent mould growth.
You should be aware, though, that you shouldn’t hang curtains over radiators.
This is because it can result in heat being funnelled out via the window.
DIY draught-proofing is also a relatively easy solution and if you take draught excluding measures around windows, doors and skirting boards, you could save as much as £45 a year.
Other ways of keeping the heat in include:
Keeping doors closed
Keeping furniture away from vents and radiators if safe and possible
Read all about the steps you can take in our draught-proofing guide.
Switch Energy Suppliers
Due to the current energy crisis, there isn't as much opportunity to change your current energy tariff to a more competitive deal, but it may still be worth checking.
However, many energy suppliers have closed down and many others continue to refuse to take on new customers at present.
In usual circumstances comparing energy, quotes can be one of the quickest ways to save money on both your gas and electricity bills.
But you also need to be cautious here since energy prices are changing so fast.
Please also note that if your energy supplier were to go bust, you don’t want to switch suppliers or tariffs prior to your account transferring to your new provider.
Recommended reading:
Final word
Saving on your electric bill in 2026 comes down to three things:
using less electricity
using it at better times
paying the right tariff for the way your home actually works
That is the real shift.
And for households with flexible demand, battery storage is becoming one of the smartest ways to make that shift stick.
