How do I reduce my energy bills?
The changes that reduce household energy use most, ordered by impact per pound spent — from free behaviour changes to worthwhile insulation.
beginner3 hr3 min read
Energy & Bills
Reducing household running costs in order of impact.
32 guides in Money & Practical
How do I dispute a bill?
What to pay while it is disputed, how to escalate, and the free ombudsman route people forget exists.
beginner45 min2 min readHow do I work out what an appliance costs to run?
One piece of arithmetic that turns speculation about which appliance is expensive into a number.
beginner20 min2 min readShould I take a meter reading before the price changes?
Why a reading on the day matters on a variable tariff, how to take and submit one that will actually be accepted, and what to do if you miss the date.
beginner15 min5 min readWhy has my direct debit gone up when I use the same amount?
How the estimate is calculated, the four things that change it, and how to challenge one that looks wrong.
beginner20 min2 min readHow much does a tumble dryer cost to run?
The honest answer is a calculation, not a number — but the physics behind it is fixed, and it explains why the spin speed on your washing machine is the biggest lever you have.
beginner20 min5 min readWhat is a standing charge and can I avoid it?
The daily fee you pay before using any energy, why it exists, and the trade-off in tariffs that reduce it.
beginner15 min2 min readHow much does a washing machine cost to run per cycle?
There is no national answer, because it depends on your tariff, your machine and your programme — but there is a five-line calculation that gives you your own number in about ten minutes.
beginner20 min4 min readWhy has my smart meter stopped sending readings?
A smart meter that has quietly gone offline still measures correctly but stops telling anyone, and the first symptom is usually an estimated bill months later. How to spot it and what to ask for.
beginner20 min5 min readHow do I read my smart meter in-home display?
The little screen shows watts, pounds, days and a traffic light, and almost nobody is told what any of them mean. What each number actually measures, and the one thing it is genuinely good for.
beginner15 min5 min readHow much does a fridge freezer cost to run?
Two honest methods — the label figure times your unit rate for an estimate, and a plug-in monitor for the truth — plus why the watts on the rating plate will mislead you badly.
beginner25 min4 min readShould I fix my energy tariff or stay on a variable rate?
How fixed and variable energy tariffs actually differ, the questions that decide which suits your household, and what to check before you commit.
beginner45 min4 min readWhat actually uses the most electricity in my home?
Where household electricity really goes, and why standby power gets far more attention than it deserves.
beginner30 min2 min readHow do I get help when I am behind on energy payments?
The obligations a supplier has towards a customer in arrears, how to ask for an affordable plan, and the free support routes worth using before the debt grows.
beginner1 hr4 min readHow do I reduce my water bill?
Where household water actually goes, the fixes with the largest effect, and whether a meter would save you money.
beginner1 hr3 min readIs a dishwasher cheaper than washing up by hand?
The honest answer depends entirely on how you wash up by hand — and the method here lets you work out your own numbers instead of trusting anyone else's.
beginner20 min4 min readHow do I switch energy supplier?
Comparing tariffs properly, what you need before you start, and what actually happens during a switch.
beginner45 min2 min readHow do I understand my energy bill?
What standing charges, unit rates and estimated readings actually mean, and how to check your bill is right.
beginner30 min2 min readWhat do I do about a large catch-up energy bill?
Why a supplier can suddenly bill for a long period, the back-billing limit that exists in Ofgem rules, and how to check and challenge the figure before you agree to pay it.
beginner1 hr4 min readWhat does the energy label on a fridge or dishwasher actually mean?
The letter was rescaled in 2021 so old and new labels are not comparable, and the numbers below the letter are the ones that let you calculate your own running cost.
beginner15 min4 min readHow do I prepare financially for winter?
The autumn actions that reduce winter bills, and what to do if you can see a difficult few months coming.
beginner1 hr2 min readHow do I reduce my water bill?
Whether a meter would help, the fixtures worth changing, and the leaks that quietly cost the most.
beginner45 min2 min readHow do I run a dishwasher on a cheap electricity tariff?
Delay start plus the eco programme is the whole trick — but the cycle has to finish inside the cheap window, not start inside it, and there is a safety trade-off worth making deliberately.
beginner30 min4 min readIs a smart meter worth having?
What a smart meter does and does not do, the tariffs it opens up, and the practical drawbacks worth knowing before you agree.
beginner15 min2 min read
Going deeper: ToolFoundry
Interactive calculators — quantities, conversions, costs and sizing — rather than prose.