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Home energy advice for customers

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Not sure if you’re on the best tariff?

Are you running up a fuel debt?

Stockport Homes’ dedicated Energy Advisors can help. Please call the Energy Advisors to arrange a home energy advice visit on:

We can advise on: • how to use heating controls efficiently;• fuel debt; • understanding your energy bills;• energy supplier tariffs;• comparison services and switching energy suppliers;• ‘no cost’ and ‘low cost’ energy saving tips; and• other energy related services.

Please contact our Energy Team to arrange a home visit on:

Home Energy Advice Service

0161 474 4062

Free Having problems with high energy bills?

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Stockport Homes Energy

Stockport Homes Energy is a free easy to use energy comparison service that allows you to compare electricity and gas suppliers, and switch to a cheaper tariff. This service is 100% impartial.

To compare suppliers: Visit www.stockporthomesenergy.org.uk or call 0800 410 1245 and see how much money you can save!

All you need to compare energy suppliers is your:

• address;• current gas and / or electricity

bills (ideally your last four bills);• personal details (date of birth,

contact phone number); and• bank details (please note: you

will be taken to a secure section of the website at this point).

Once you have compared suppliers you will have the option to switch online.

Useful tip: If you don’t want to switch suppliers, call your current supplier to ask if there is a cheaper tariff available for you. Energy suppliers frequently introduce new tariffs.

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Go to www.stockporthomesenergy.org.uk or call free on 0800 410 1245 to fi nd out how much you could save.

Stockport Homes Energy is an easy way to compare prices and switch suppliers.

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Save moneyon your gas andelectricity billswith Stockport Homes Energy

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Call Stockport Homes Energy Advisors to arrange a Home Energy Advice visit on 0161 474 4062.

Ask our advisors about these other services.

The Priority Service RegisterA special service for elderly or disabled people and those living with long-term health conditions that includes bills in easy-to-read larger text or in Braille, as well as security passwords and a free annual gas safety check.

Warm Home DiscountAll energy suppliers offer their most vulnerable customers cheaper tariffs and extra free services to certain customers. You may qualify if you are over 60, on means tested benefits or on a low income.

Recommended room temperatures

21° Livingroom18° Bedroom Bathroom16° Hallways Stairs

Are you worried about increasing energy prices?Do you have difficulty understanding energy bills?

How can we help

Please note: For households where there is vulnerability (illness, have a disability or children under 5), there may be a requirement for a higher temperature.

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Too hot!Risk of high fuel bills

Comfortable

A Bit Cool

For most people

Turn up the heating

Too Cold!Increased risk of illness

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Useful tip: Keep warm and save money with a free temperature measurer. Call 0161 474 4062 for your own copy.

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Appliance Power rating kWh Cost to run for 1 hour

Electric cooker (hob and oven)

12,000 12 £2.28

Tumble dryer 3,500 3.5 67pAn immersion heater 3,000 3 57p‘A’ rated washing machine 2,500 2.5 48pDishwasher 3,000 3 57pKettle 2,400 2.4 46pPlasma TV 1,200 – 2,200 1.2 - 2.2 23p – 42pHeater 2,000 2 38pOven 1,200 1.2 23pIron 1,200 1.2 23pMicrowave oven 650 0.65 12pHair dryer 350 0.35 6pAn old freezer 350 0.35 6p‘A’ rated fridge freezer 200 0.2 4pTelevision 150 0.15 3pComputer 120 0.12 3pTungsten light bulb 100 0.1 2pDVD player 100 0.1 2pRadio 50 0.05 1pEnergy saving light bulb 20 0.02 0.5p

Using the table below, take a look at the list of appliances to find the ones you use, then calculate their costs to run using the table below. Remember we’re here to help, call one of our dedicated Energy Advisors on 0161 474 4062 for more information.

How much energy do your appliances use?

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Appliance Power rating kWh Cost to run for 1 hour

Electric cooker (hob and oven)

12,000 12 £2.28

Tumble dryer 3,500 3.5 67pAn immersion heater 3,000 3 57p‘A’ rated washing machine 2,500 2.5 48pDishwasher 3,000 3 57pKettle 2,400 2.4 46pPlasma TV 1,200 – 2,200 1.2 - 2.2 23p – 42pHeater 2,000 2 38pOven 1,200 1.2 23pIron 1,200 1.2 23pMicrowave oven 650 0.65 12pHair dryer 350 0.35 6pAn old freezer 350 0.35 6p‘A’ rated fridge freezer 200 0.2 4pTelevision 150 0.15 3pComputer 120 0.12 3pTungsten light bulb 100 0.1 2pDVD player 100 0.1 2pRadio 50 0.05 1pEnergy saving light bulb 20 0.02 0.5p

How much energy do your appliances use? Calculating the running costs of an appliance

Every household electrical appliance has a power rating somewhere on it. This is a plate / sticker or piece of paper that tells us how much power it needs to work. It is usually given in Watts. The amount of energy it uses depends on how long it is on for. This is measured in kWh. To work out the amount of energy an appliance uses for the time it is turned on, use the following calculation:

Watts ÷ 1000 × the time it is on for (hours) = kWhFor example, if a 3,500 watt tumble dryer is on for an hour

3,500 ÷ 1000 × 1 = 3.5kWh To calculate: usage x unit cost = actual costExample: 3.5kWh (usage) x £0.19* (unit cost) = £0.67 (actual cost)

If an appliance is turned on for less than an hour, the calculation is as follows:

Watts ÷ 1000 × minutes ÷ 60 = kWhFor example, if a 2,400 watt kettle takes five minutes to boil 2,400 ÷ 1000 × 5 ÷ 60 = 0.2kWh To calculate: usage x unit cost = actual costExample: 0.2kWh (usage) x £0.19* (unit cost) = £0.04 (actual cost)

* based on an average £0.19 pence per unit (kWh) cost. Your tariff may be different. Please check your unit (kWh) cost from your energy supplier.

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Top Ten Tips

Here are some simple ways you can stop wasting energy and money now:

Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent and typically saves around £60 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.

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Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.

Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.

Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Don’t leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.

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If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads.

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Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you’re using an electric kettle).

A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re fully turned off!

Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £55 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be around £120 over its lifetime if you’re replacing a high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.

Using lids on pans whilst cooking will save you money by cooking food faster and it will reduce condensation.

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Get your bills under control with the...

The Home Heat Helpline advises British energy customers worried about paying their fuel bills and keeping warm during the winter. It also gives advice to low income households in urgent need of heating help and advice.

Calls to the helpline are answered by expert advisors. They’re trained to give quick, clear information on the grants, benefits and payment schemes that you may be entitled to as well as basic steps that can be taken to save money on heating bills by making your home more energy efficient.

After asking you a few questions the advisor will aim to put your call straight through to the specialist team at your energy supplier, or another advice or grant giving agency.

The Home Heat Helpline works closely with the major energy suppliers and other organisations, offering help and advice to people having difficulties with fuel bills.

Their services include help with:Utility debt, Council Tax debt, telephone debt, rent debt (extreme circumstances only), Debt Relief Orders (DROs), bankruptcy, help with household items

If you’re worried about paying your heating bills or need some easy to understand advice on how to save energy then the Home Heat Helpline is here to lend a hand.

Call now for free advice 0800 33 66 99

HOME HEATHELPLINE

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We can advise on: • how to use heating controls efficiently;• fuel debt; • understanding your energy bills;• energy supplier tariffs;• comparison services and switching energy suppliers;• ‘no cost’ and ‘low cost’ energy saving tips; and• other energy related services.

Please contact our Energy Team to arrange a home visit on:

Home Energy Advice Service

0161 474 4062

Free

Accessing Our Services

This leaflet gives you advice on home energy usage. If you would like a copy of this information in large print, Braille, audiotape or CD please contact the Social Inclusion Team on 0161 474 2860 or email: inclusion@stockporthomes.org

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