Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell shares tips for saving money on energy bills
Press Release 24 January 2023
As people across Surrey face huge increases in their energy bills, Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (CAEE) shares practical advice for bringing down costs.
The charity has teamed up with Energy Saving Trust to provide the following advice for making small savings around the home.*
- Turning your appliances off standby could save you £65 a year
- Draught proofing windows, doors and blocking cracks around your home could save you up to £125 a year
- Turning off lights when you leave a room could save you £25 a year
- Washing your clothes at 30 degrees and doing one less machine run a week could save you around £34 a year
- Ditching the tumble dryer and drying your clothes on racks in a well-ventilated room or outside in warmer weather could save you £70 a year
- Reducing your shower time to 4 minutes can save you £95 a year
- Swapping one bath a week with a 4 minute shower can save you £20 a year
- Avoiding overfilling the kettle could save you £13 a year
- Running your dishwasher one time less per week could save you £17 a year
People must get all the support they’re entitled to
These lifestyle changes still might not cover the hole in household budgets, so Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell is also urging people to check they’re getting all the support they’re entitled to. This could include:
- Energy Bills Support Scheme — a £400 discount given to every household. People who use prepayment meters are also entitled to this – there’s more information here on how this works.
- Warm Home Discount — a £150 discount if you get certain benefits
- Fuel vouchers — if you can’t afford to top up your prepayment meter
- Cold weather payments — payments if you get certain benefits and the weather is extremely cold
- Grants from your energy supplier — to help you pay off debts you may owe.
For more information, visit the Citizens Advice website.
If you owe money to your energy supplier, you should speak to them about setting up a payment plan. They’re responsible for helping you find a way to pay your bills.
Lisa Davis, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell said:
“We know times are extremely hard and a lot of people are struggling to stay afloat. It’s important to know about any way you can safely save money and what support you’re entitled to.
“We know many people are already doing everything they can and are still stretched beyond their limit. If you need personalised support, don’t hesitate to contact us.”
Media enquiries: please contact Louise Curd, Publicity and Fundraising Manager, Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell, email: publicity@caee.org.uk tel: 01372 300778
For information and advice, contact Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell on Freephone 0808 278 7963 or visit https://www.caee.org.uk
We give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem.
Notes to editors:
- *England, Scotland and Wales savings are for a typical three-bedroom, gas-heated home in Great Britain, using a gas price of 10.3p/kWh and electricity price of 34.0p/kWh (based on Energy Price Guarantee October 2022). Water savings are based on average occupancy.
- Citizens Advice has lots of tips on ways you can heat your home more efficiently.
- For more tips, including tips tailored to your home, visit Energy Saving Trust.
- Citizens Advice is made up of the national charity Citizens Advice; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.
- Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (CAEE) is a small, local charity offering free advice and information for all who live, work and study in the borough of Epsom & Ewell. All advice is free, confidential, impartial and independent.
- Each year CAEE helps around 3,000 clients with issues such as benefits, housing, debt, fuel poverty, family issues and much more. Our outcomes are extremely positive not only for the clients we serve, but also for the wider community. During 2021/22 we secured income in excess of £900,000 for our clients. Our added value to society totalled £1.2m in fiscal benefits by reducing health service demand and maintaining employment and housing. The wider economic and social benefit of our work during 2021/22 totalled almost £8.4m.
- As a small charity we are responsible for raising our funds. It costs, on average, £60 for each client that we help. To make a donation please visit www.caee.org.uk/donate/ Just £5 per month could enable us to help another client this year.
- To get advice please use our Freephone adviceline 0808 278 7963 or visit our website where you can get advice by email and find details of our drop in service.