How to protect yourself NOW as energy bills set to soar by £427 from January

MILLIONS of Brit households are facing a fresh energy bill nightmare, with costs set to rocket by £427 in January, according to new forecasts. The hike would see a typical household’s annual energy bill leap by roughly 25%, according to analysis by Bloomberg Economics. It would push Ofgem’s energy price cap up by about £427, taking the average household’s annual bill to roughly £2,150 from January. That would push bills perilously close to the £2,500 cap the government was forced to bring in back in 2022 following Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Households are already feeling the pinch after Ofgem confirmed the price cap would rise 4% in October, taking the typical dual-fuel bill from £1,663 to £1,723 a year. That followed a 13% hike back in July, meaning families were already facing higher costs before this latest wave of wholesale price rises has even hit their bills. Here are the steps you can take now to protect yourself… Consider switching to a fixed energy bill The cost of wholesale gas has jumped by almost a third in a month to its highest level since November 2022. Households on standard tariffs have only two weeks to get a fixed deal to avoid higher energy rates from October 1. However, the price hike is avoidable, as there are currently fixed energy deals available that undercut the new rates for October. Most read in Money A 24-month tariff from Sainsbury’s Energy costs £1,646 a year for a typical home, which is £77 below the October price cap and £506 below the average January forecast. Other cheap deals on the market include an 18-month fix from Outfox Energy at £1,676 a year and an 18-month fix from Fuse Energy at £1,683 a year. Uswitch.com is urging households on standard tariffs to lock in a good fixed deal to avoid the impending energy bill hikes. Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “It’s terrible timing, but energy costs are going up for millions of households on the exact day many reach for the heating. “If you’re on a standard tariff, you have only two weeks to avoid higher energy prices from October 1. “There are currently fixed deals available that are cheaper than October’s price cap, so act now to save yourself money. “With predictions for January also suggesting a staggering 25% increase, comparing energy deals to find a cheaper option should be a priority for those wanting to avoid the hikes. “It’s important to run a quick comparison to see options tailored to your personal energy usage. The price cap is going up, but your bills don’t have to.” Start turning off ‘vampire devices’ According to British Gas, Wi-Fi routers are the biggest culprits when it comes to wasting electricity, with most of us leaving them switched on when we’re not home, when we’re asleep or even when we go away on holiday. This could be adding up to £32.60 a year to your energy bill. Leaving the telly on standby can add up to £30.60 a year to your bill, and a set-top box, such as a Sky box, can add £25. Leaving microwaves plugged in when you’re not using them can cost you up to £21.70 a year. Games consoles such as a PlayStation or Xbox can add £16.10, and desktop computers add £14.80. Smart speakers and home devices, such as Amazon‘s Alexa, can drain an extra £13 a year by being left on while not in use. Larger devices such as dishwashers and washing machines, which people don’t tend to unplug, cost less, at £9.10 and £6.30 respectively. British Gas says households could save £147 a year just by unplugging these devices while not in use. Marc Robson, energy expert at British Gas, said households should switch devices off at the mains rather than leaving them on standby overnight. He said: “Try not to overcharge your mobile phone and laptop unnecessarily. “As soon as your device is charged, try and get into the habit of unplugging it.” He also suggested getting a single extension lead for all your devices that you can easily switch off at night, or investing in a smart plug that can be controlled from your phone. Bleed your radiators Clive Holland, lead presenter at Fix Radio and a former builder, said checking your radiators now could save you money once the heating goes on properly. He said: “Get your heating on and check every radiator properly. If you find a radiator is cold across the top, it may need bleeding. “That can usually be done with a radiator key or, depending on the valve, a flat-headed screwdriver, but make sure the heating is switched off before you start. “Sludge in the system is another thing to look out for if radiators aren’t heating as they should.” Move your furniture Commercial furniture expert Elliot Brierley, managing director of Rosehill, says applying the same heating principles used in offices and shops could help households cut heating costs by around five to ten per cent, worth up to £120 to £125 a year. He warns against placing furniture too close to radiators, which can trap warm air instead of allowing it to circulate freely around the room, and recommends leaving a gap of six to twelve inches between furniture and radiators. He said: “Many people are unknowingly blocking the flow of warm air in their home. Ideally, there should be a six to twelve inch gap between furniture and radiators, as this stops air being trapped and absorbed by furniture instead of circulating freely to heat the room. “People should also avoid blocking radiators or vents by using them to dry wet clothes. “The clothes will block heat from entering the room, meaning that the boiler is working harder to heat the space.” He also suggests households with open-plan layouts take a leaf out of the commercial world’s book, using furniture such as sideboards or screens to divide larger spaces and cut draughts without covering radiators. He added: “Being clever with how you arrange furniture in your home can result in a noticeable saving to heating bills. “Commercial spaces are a good place to look for inspiration on how to do this, as they are often looking for ways to lower their operating costs and ensure that they comply with environmental targets or energy regulations.” Comment now