Tag: bills
Millions of mobile phone and internet users set to have to pay much higher bills this time next week
Ending sewage dumping will mean higher water bills – report
Energy bills: Call to let people have prepayment meters removed
I’m a gas technician – you could save more than 20% on your energy bills, here’s how
A BRITISH Gas engineer has revealed how you could save more than 20 per cent on your energy bills with these handy hacks.
Expert technician Simon, 40, has shared his knowledge with homeowners who want to slash their monthly outgoings.
The British Gas boffin shared his tips on reducing your energy bills[/caption]
As the cost of living crisis rages on, it’s important that Brits are getting a bang for their buck when it comes to energy bills.
Over half of the cost for most households comes from heating and hot water – so an efficient boiler is essential.
Replacing an old, uneconomical boiler with an energy-efficient one could save you more than 20 percent on your gas bills.
The Energy Saving Trust says a well-running heating system is “one of the most important steps you can take to reduce your fuel bills and your carbon dioxide emissions.”
So for those who don’t want to waste their cash on lukewarm radiators, Simon says he has some useful tips.
The British Gas worker, from Cornwall, first encouraged people to splash out on new systems – as it will save them money in the long run.
He told the Mirror: “In a nutshell, boiler efficiency is about making sure all of the fuel being used to power your system actually goes into heating your home, rather than being lost or wasted.
“You pay for 100 per cent of the energy you use, so you want to get the maximum heat possible from that source.”
He explained that modern A-rated condensing boilers easily beat older models – especially if they’re over 15 years old.
Simon said: “Chances are it’s not a condensing boiler, which means it’s running far less efficiently than it should do, and it’s perhaps time for a switch.
“An upgrade doesn’t mean changing your entire system.”
He explained the process can actually be quite “simple” but admitted there is “no one-size-fits-all option” for homes.
Simon then went on to stress the importance of arranging a service for your boiler to check it is all in working order.
The gas expert believes it is the “best way” to confirm that your central heating system is working efficiently.
He added: “There aren’t many tell-tale signs for boilers working inefficiently; you need someone who knows what to look for to give it a proper once-over.”
However, he explained that radiators do provide some hints to homeowners.
Simon continued: “Do your radiators have cold spots or take ages to heat up?
“If so, they could be full of air or dirt that is stopping them from working properly, and that can make a big difference.”
The British Gas boffin advised Brits to bleed their radiators to get rid of the build-up or to ask an engineer to do it while they service their boiler.
Simon finished off his list of recommendations by reminding people to reign in their habits of overusing the heating.
He said: “Many people leave their heating on far longer than necessary.
“Smart thermostats such as Hive, which you can control from wherever you are, can save a surprising amount of money and prevent your heating firing up long before you need it.
“Radiators stay warm for a good 30-45 minutes after you turn off the heating, so also consider shutting it down half an hour before you normally would in the morning and evenings.
“You’ll be surprised how much that saves in the long term.”
Simon believes the country needs to be informed so people can save cash while getting the most out of their appliances.
He added: “I love my job, always have.
“It can be very rewarding fixing someone’s appliance – especially if they’re elderly or vulnerable.
“We’re able to help people in so many ways, and deliver a high level of service.”
Energy bills set to stay at £2,500 from April – saving millions of families around £500
ENERGY bills are set to stay at £2,500 from April – saving millions of families around £500.
Jeremy Hunt is poised to extend the current level of government help for another three months.
Jeremy Hunt is set to keep energy bills at £2,500 from April – saving millions of families around £500[/caption]
The cap was due to rise to £3,000 for the average family as the Government tried to end state support for sky-high bills.
The Chancellor could make the announcement in his upcoming Spring Budget on March 15, which the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies say could cost around £2.7billion.
Businesses have been told to get ready for both outcomes, which could stop millions from struggling to afford their bills.
Wholesale energy prices are predicted to tumble later this year, with ministers hopeful they can wean everyone off state aid for their bills come July.
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has been openly lobbying for the move.
Without government help, bills would have soared to a staggering £4,279 a year last January.
It comes after the Treasury received a bigger than expected windfall from higher tax receipts in January.
And lower predicted energy prices will cut the cost of the scheme for ministers – giving them an extra £30billion in extra cash ahead of the Budget.
But Mr Hunt has played down the prospect of slashing eye-watering taxes – saying he wants to use it to push down Britain’s huge debt mountain first.
Adam Scorer, chief executive of fuel poverty charity National Energy Action welcomed the move, but said it would still leave around 7.5million households in fuel poverty.
He said: “The need for targeted support for the most vulnerable households is as urgent as ever and unless we tackle the least efficient housing stock in Europe, the poorest households will simply not be able to afford a warm and safe home.”
Energy bills may rise again without plan for 2035 clean power target – warning
Food inflation shot up to 17% last month with annual grocery bills now £811 higher than a year ago
SHOPPERS have been hit by the biggest food price rise on record, with annual grocery bills now £811 higher than a year ago.
Food inflation shot up to 17.1 per cent in February and supermarket prices are now the second biggest worry for people, after soaring energy bills, according to Kantar.
Shoppers have been hit by the biggest food price rise on record[/caption]
Households are unable to escape many of the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis — such as sky-high bills for gas, electricity, fuel, rent and mortgages — and a quarter of households now say they are struggling.
However, shoppers are managing their tight budgets and limiting their own inflationary pressures by making savvy switches to cheaper own-brand labels and discount supermarkets.
Sales of own-brand groceries rose by 13.2 per cent in the past month, well ahead of more expensive branded products, which rose by 4.6 per cent.
Iceland Foods boss Richard Walker said frozen veg sales jumped by a quarter recently as shoppers swapped fresh food for cheaper meals.
Meanwhile, customers are flocking to discount supermarkets, such as Aldi and Lidl.
Their growth is now four times faster than that of their traditional rivals, with sales rising by 26.7 per cent and 25.4 per cent respectively in February.
Aldi recently overtook Morrisons as the country’s fourth biggest supermarket.
Morrisons has been on a losing streak of late and was the only supermarket with falling sales.
The firm, which is now private-equity owned, has been accused of not being sharp enough on prices in the face of intense competition.
Morrisons, however, said that its recent price-cutting campaign had been noticed by customers and its performance was already starting to improve.
Food manufacturers have warned that prices will continue to rise as they continue to pass on their own higher costs to consumers.
Supermarkets and their suppliers have been battling it out over how much of this inflationary pressure can be passed on to customers.
The retailers argue that large manufacturers, such as Unilever, Nestle and Kraft Heinz, have bigger profit margins and are therefore capable of absorbing more costs.
Research has already found that budget food prices have risen faster than the rest of the market — hitting the poorest shoppers hardest.
Love … sick
LOVERS are still prising open their wallets in a bid to woo — but sales of cough and cold treatments are also on the rise.
Despite shoppers having squeezed budgets in the “cost of loving” crisis, food retail figures show the best way to anyone’s heart is still through their stomach.
Lovers are still prising open their wallets in a bid to woo[/caption]
But sales of cough and cold treatments are also on the rise[/caption]
On Valentine’s Day, steak sales rose by a quarter compared with the previous week, chilled ready meals soared, sparkling wine sales doubled and an extra £5million was spent on chocolates.
Industry experts said it shows people are trying to recreate the fanciness of going to a restaurant with the cheaper alternative of eating at home.
But it came as a big passion-killer — seasonal coughs and colds — seemed to be on the rise, with sales of cold treatments up by 82 per cent compared with last year, while sales of cough lozenges were also some 70 per cent higher.
M&S pay boost
MARKS & SPENCER is investing almost £60million to raise staff pay for the third time in a year — taking the average hourly wage to £10.90.
The retailer said the latest increase from an average of £10.20 means staff earn £150 more a month than a year ago.
London shop staff’s pay will rise to £12.05 from £11.25.
Retailers have boosted wages amid concerns employees would struggle to afford the food which they were stacking on the shelves.
M&S boss Stuart Machin said: “We need to help colleagues.”
THE number of Brits living in fuel poverty rose by 100,000 last year to 3.26million, figures revealed.
About 7.4million households now spend more than 10 per cent of their total income on energy, with single parents the ones most hit by the big bills.
Argos jobs risk
SAINSBURY’S is putting 1,400 jobs at risk with plans to shut two of its Argos depots.
It bought Argos and Habitat for £1.3billion in 2016 when it had 600 standalone shops.
In the pandemic Sainsbury’s said it would restructure the business to close virtually all its Argos high street stores and follow its plan to open click-and-collect counters inside its supermarkets instead.
CEO Simon Roberts said the supermarket’s aim was “to make our business simpler, more efficient and more effective for customers”.
Ocado’s taking a £500m hit
OCADO’S losses have leapt to half a billion pounds, adding to doubts about a firm once hailed as the future of grocery retail.
It started out as a techy warehouse company delivering Waitrose online orders.
Ocado’s losses have leapt to half a billion pounds[/caption]
But it now has a retail joint venture with Marks & Spencer instead and sells its software, smart warehouses and robotic technology to retailers abroad.
The group posted flat revenues of £2.5billion but losses rose from £176.9million to £500.8million.
It now has 12 international warehouses but the overseas arm is loss-making.
During the pandemic its retail unit boomed but growth has since slumped, and it reported a £4million loss, compared with a £150million profit last year.
In a bid to revive growth it is relaunching its price match scheme, scrapped in 2021, to peg 1,000 of its products against against Tesco.
Travis’s buckle
BUILDERS merchant Travis Perkins cut 400 jobs and shut 19 sites at the end of 2022 as it braces for a downturn in the construction sector.
Travis, which also owns Toolstation, said it expects the market to decline by up to 9 per cent as homeowners and companies delay projects.
This is despite rival Screwfix recently saying its tradesmen customers were still busy with work and orders.
Travis said it cut costs by £25million last year as its own budget was put under strain by rising inflation.
Profits fell by 20 per cent to £245million last year while sales rose 9 per cent to £4.9billion.
Energy price cap falls – but average household bills still expected to rise
Energy bills will rise by around £500 for average family from April – despite prices falling
ENERGY bills will rise by around £500 for the average family from April – despite prices falling.
Experts predict that Ofgem will today reveal a fall in their maximum price cap by around £1,000 to £3,295 as wholesale prices collapse.
Energy bills will rise by around £500 for the average family from April – despite prices falling[/caption]
But ministers’ cap for families is still set to rise from £2,500 to £3,000 as they try to wean Brits off state support and slash the ballooning bill for the state.
Last night Jeremy Hunt faced growing calls to smooth the rise in bills as prices are set to tumble even further later this year.
Torsten Bell of the Resolution Foundation think tank said: “The Ofgem price cap will confirm that the cost of the government’s energy support scheme next year will be 90 per cent lower than originally thought.
“That’s good news for the Chancellor – and in the long run British families, but in the short run households face a 20 per cent spike in their energy bills this April unless the chancellor uses his extra savings to keep everyone’s energy bills down.”
Cornwall Insight predict the price cap is set to fall from the current level of £4,279 per year for the average household from April.
And they think it will fall even further to £2,153 in July, and £2,161 in October – meaning ministers will effectively stop subsidizing Brits’ bills in just a few months’ time.
Meanwhile, the Lib Dems today urge ministers to cancel the planned April hike and bring in a one-off “bonanza bonus” tax on oil and gas bosses raking in extra cash.
They demand a bankers-bonus style raid on top profits after executives take home millions in bonuses and benefits.
Lib Dem chief Ed Davey said: “Rishi Sunak must act now to save families from a cost-of-living cliff edge, by cutting energy bills instead of increasing them.”