Martin Lewis has issued advice on social media to suggest the best time of day to use household appliances which use the most energy .
The MoneySavingExpert founder took to Twitter following a warning from the National Grid on Thursday that planned blackouts could be introduced in the UK this winter. The electricity system operator said that power cuts similar to those seen in the 1970s could return in the worst-case scenario due to gas shortages.
Households are being encouraged to sign up with their electricity supplier to a scheme that gives them money back if they use power at non-peak times rather than busy periods. Martin gave advice for those who are already on these time-of-use tariffs, The Mirror reports .
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Martin posed the question of what time was best to use appliances that consume the most energy in the home, giving tumble dryers as a prime example. He Tweeted: “Most don't have time-of-use tariffs, so there's no price difference - if you do, night’s cheaper.”
He added: “Yet peak use is 4pm-9pm, so for the UK's energy security, not then is better.” The MSE founder also advised people who have UV solar panels to use their appliances in the daylight hours.
UK households tend to consume a fifth of their daily energy between the hours of 4pm and 7pm, according to Ovo Energy. The Energy Saving Trust says that the likes of washing machines, dryers and dishwashers make up 14% of the average energy bill.
Martin clarified in later Tweets that his advice did not necessarily mean using a tumble dryer at night, after several followers voiced concern that this could pose a fire hazard. “This is about info, so you can choose, and isn’t just about tumble dryers,” he said.
He added: “There are 19 hours in the day outside 4pm-9pm, many of them are not in the night.” Martin also issued further advice for those attempting to cut their energy costs on the MoneySavingExpert website.
“Try to do one fewer load of washing a week and make sure you fill up the machine each time,” he wrote. “No more washing just one shirt or dress that you need for a big night out.
“The savings aren't huge, around £19 a year for modern machines, but can be much more with old ones. You could also try doing your washing on a colder setting. By washing your clothes at 30 degrees, you could save £54 a year, leading to a £73 overall saving,” he continued, adding that people should use their appliances on ‘eco’ mode where possible.
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