As the cost of living crisis continues to pinch millions of Brits pockets, there is a way to save on energy bills when washing your clothes, according to consumer and money expert Martin Lewis.
The finance guru warned that using high-energy appliances during peak times could mean you're faced with a larger bill as he chatted with This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phil Schofield about soaring living costs. Because of this, one person who contacted the show said they were considering switching to an Economy-7 meter to help save energy, the Daily Record reports.
Martin Lewis said: "We are looking at energy difficulties this winter. We hope there will not be any blackouts." He added that the peak time for energy usage is between 4pm and 7pm and said that we all need to make an effort to ensure that blackouts don't happen.
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The MoneySavingExpert.com founder encouraged people to use high-energy appliances such as washing machines outside of these peak hours, so that demand for electricity is reduced. The finance expert also offered some advice on Economy-7 meters, which he said may only be useful in certain situations.
He said: "The rough rule of thumb is that you want storage heaters and 40 percent or more of your electric to be in overnight period to be worthwhile. If your house isn't set up to do that, don't bother."
These meters track energy use in the day and night separately, so that a different kWh rate can be offered via an Economy 7 tariff. This means you could get cheaper electricity during certain hours in the evening, meaning it could be useful if you tend to use more energy during the specified Economy 7 times.
It comes after Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Budget caused more concern around money in the UK, with energy bills set to soar again next year. The Chancellor announced that bills would be capped at £3,000 from next April, when the current £2,500 Energy Price Guarantee comes to an end.
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