Should you wish to find out what your electricity bill should be then there is a way you can do so.
You can easily find out what the average UK electricity bill is and find out whether or not you are paying more, or you are being charged more than you ought to be when it comes to your electricity bills.
Average electricity consumption
The UK energy regulator Ofgem uses a standard measure whereby energy suppliers and comparison websites work out the “average” household gas and electricity consumption.
Should you be on a standard tariff you are probably likely to be paying a lot more than you ought to be. The average basic measures are presently:
- Average electricity usage of 3,300 kWh
- Average gas usage of 16,500 kWhM
These figures are representative of ‘typical’ consumption figures. There is no such thing as your typical consumer. Each household differs; the bigger the building and greater the number of inhabitants, the greater the energy consumption.
Using the above figures and present rates for a British Gas standard tariff, an average household paying dual fuel bills by direct debit ought to receive an annual bill for around £1,009. The average annual electricity bill calculated by the above figures on the British Gas standard tariff works out at £390 per year should you pay by direct debit.
Reasons why your bill could be higher than the national average
You may be paying more due to the following reasons:
You are on a standard tariff
Should you be on your supplier’s standard tariff you will pay more than the average household which is likely to be too much. The standard tariffs are the most expensive ones around, so if possible, change to a cheaper deal forthwith.
You are not paying your bills by direct debit
Paying your energy bills by monthly direct debit will cut your bills significantly.
You have been paying estimated bills. You may not have submitted meter readings hence your estimated bills are likely to be lower than actual readings. When your meter is read, you are most likely to see your bill rocket. It is most advisable to submit meter readings to your supplier in order that you do not receive a horrible shock.
Paper Bills
Getting paper bills is a more expensive way of paying for energy too. Should you swap over to an online account and opt for a paperless billing system, you are likely to find that your bills will go down too.
Ways to lower your electricity bill
There are several ways in which you can save on your home electricity bills.
You can:
- Switch off lights when they are not being used
- Ensure electrical appliances are not left on standby
- Ensure that your washing machine or dishwasher is loaded fully prior to running it
- Make sure that the element in the kettle is covered and only boil the amount of much water you need
- Ensure you use energy-saving light bulbs as they last 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs
Stop charging your laptop or mobile phone unnecessarily. It is of note that it takes just a couple of hours to charge items fully and they do not cease using electricity even when they are fully charged.
