With the way that energy bills are at the moment, Brits simply cannot win. Whether it's cranking up the central heating system over the winter months, or dusting off fans and air conditioning units over the summer - you're more than likely going to see your bills rise somewhat.
And analysts say that the recent swathe of scorching summer sun we've had could add as much as £380 to your energy bills. Experts from Loop - an energy-saving smart meter app - have broken down exactly how much popular summer items cost to run, from hot tubs to garden heaters.
If you're lucky enough to have an A/C until to help cool you down, it may well set you back up to £70 more than your traditional desktop or standing fan. In comparison, a family of four each using a 35W fan at night could add around £3 per month to their electric bill.
Read more: Martin Lewis issues stark warning over phone scams and dispels common myth
The Mirror reports at the opposite end of the spectrum meanwhile, garden heaters used on chillier nights could rack up £144 charges, while using a mini-fridge to keep beer and wine cool could cost around £30. The research from Loop lands after Ofgem announced an energy price cap fall to £2,074 as of July 1.
This comes down 17 per cent from the Energy Price Guarantee, which was set respectively at £2,500. These figures are used to describe what an average household could expect to pay on typical energy use over the course of a year - although in reality, many pay much cheaper.
The price cap puts a limit on how much you can be charged per unit of energy consumed, so those who use less than the average person will in-turn pay less. On the flip side though, those using more, pay more.
And with temperatures set to rise in the coming weeks, Loop is urging billpayers to monitor their usage with regards to energy, especially when using extra appliances around the house. Dr Steve Buckley, Head of Data Science at Loop, said: "While the new energy price cap is great news for consumers, it’s still important to keep a close eye on your energy usage.
"A warm spring in the UK has meant cooling devices have potentially been plugged in for hours at a time already. Now is a great time to reset your habits to better control your energy usage, especially as the summer heat really starts to kick in.
"At first glance, these costs may not seem that high on an hourly basis, but they can easily add up if you’ve got a few devices running or if you forget to switch them off. Monitoring your energy usage by using a free energy-saving smart meter app like Loop is key to making savings."
Cost of running popular summer appliances
- 35W Tower Fan: 8p (per day, 8 hours) £2.40 (per month, average 30 days)
- 70W Beer Pump Dispenser: 17p (per day, 8 hours) £5.10 (per month, average 30 days)
- 145W Drinks Fridge: 35p (per day, 8 hours) £10.50 (per month, average 30 days)
- 1000W Air Conditioner: £2.40 (per day, 8 hours) £72 (per month, average 30 days)
- 2000W Garden Heater: £4.80 (per day, 8 hours) £144 (per month, average 30 days)
- 2000W Garden Heater: £4.92 (per day, 8 hours) £147.60 (per month, average 30 days)
