Experts are warning that households in quarantine are likely to face the prospect of increased monthly utility bills.
Estimates, courtesy of uSwitch.com, say that stay-at-home Brits could be in danger of adding an extra £16-a-month on energy. This, according to the report, works out to around £195 a year for individuals on poor-value deals.
Workers ordinarily out between the hours of 8am and 6pm will use more energy on boiling kettles, switching on lights and using power outlets for TV’s, computers, tablets and mobile phones.
In response, the energy industry is now said to be in correspondence with the government to help households who have been affected by the coronavirus.
Energy expert Cordelia Samson at uSwitch said: “This is a hugely unsettling time for everyone, with many people staying at home who don’t normally, and some having to juggle looking after children at the same time.”
“People will be thinking about vulnerable friends and relatives, so the last thing on their minds will be their energy bill.”
To help, the price-comparison website has compiled a list of 10 things consumers can do to cut down on their own personal consumption:
Kitchen tips:
- Use a microwave
- Be water-conscious
- Leave enough defrosting time
- Use the right size pan
Washing tips:
- Wash at a lower degree centigrade
- Hang up to dry
Electricity tips:
- Don’t leave anything unnecessarily
- Turn down the thermostat
- Layer up
- Turn the lights off
