Electric, Gas, etc
Water & Sewerage
My experienced shared. I applied for a water meter but due to a joint supply with a neighbour and a difficult internal stopcock, a water meter could not be fitted. However I was able to have the water and sewerage reassessed on the basis of size of house and number of people residing. The result a saving of over 50%.
If you want to know more please contact: me at ian@silver60.com
Winter Fuel Benefit
Aged 60 or over on or before 25 September 2009. If so you could get a Winter Fuel Payment of up to £250 to help with the winter heating costs, even if you are still working.
As a result of pensions reform the minimum age at which both men and women will be able to receive a Winter Fuel Payment will rise incrementally to 65 between 2010 and 2020. This will not affect 2009/10 Winter Fuel Payments. There is a working assumption that it will rise again to 68 with the increase in State Pension age. Precise details of how the Winter Fuel Payment qualifying age will increase are yet to be finalised
Winter Fuel Helpline 08459 151515
Website: www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel
If you are aged 60 after 25 September 2009 then unfortunately you do not qualify for benefit until winter 2009
Reducing Household Bills- Some Ideas
Check with your supplier you are on the right tariff.
Monitor your meter readings and see what effect particular appliances have, reduce use if able.
Consider online and combined plans(i.e. gas & electricity).
Power off appliances - don't leave on standby mode, turn off appliances like micro-waves at the wall socket.
Use low energy and lower wattage light bulbs
Turn down thermostat by one or more degrees.
Reduce timed central heating cycle at beginning and end of day. If you're in bed by 10pm why have central heating on to 11pm.
Some further ideas curtesy of Motleyfool.com
1) Wash your clothes in cold water.
Washing your clothes in cold water might not sound ideal, but it does save energy. Plus hot water tends to set stains on clothes and shorten the lifespan anyway.
2) Bleed your radiators
This releases any air trapped inside them and improves their efficiency. To bleed the radiator, turn off your heating and let the radiators cool. Then put your 'bleed key' into the valve at the top of the radiator and turn it to release the air. Be warned, a little water may escape once the air is released so you might want to have a cloth or towel to hand.
3) Defrost your freezer regularly
I know, defrosting your freezer can be such a chore, but it is worth doing as it will increase its efficiency. When you come to restock your freezer, ensure it is packed to the brim (certainly not a problem for me!) as this also helps it to work more efficiently.
In contrast, don't overfill your fridge as cold air needs space to circulate to work efficiently.
4) Vacuum the dust off your refrigerator coils
If you have never done this before, there could be a lot of dust on those coils. This may be making your refrigerator work harder than it needs to so get rid of that dust!
5) Don't hang clothes on the radiator
If you are drying your clothes indoors, avoid putting them on your radiators. By covering your radiators, you are preventing the heat from reaching the rest of the room. If you can't hang them outside, put them on a clothes rail in an unheated room, open a window, and shut the door.
6) Use Dryerballs in your tumble dryer
If you do need to use a tumble dryer, then Dryerballs are definitely the way to go. Dryerballs get hot when they are in use so they act like another heat source inside the dryer. By popping two balls in the dryer and turning on the machine, you will use up to 25% less electricity, saving energy and money.
7) Match the saucepan size to the hob ring
Ensure the size of the saucepan matches the size of the hob ring so you are not paying to
heat the air. Gas flames should only heat the bottom of the pan and not the sides.
8) Put a stop to all those draughts!
Around 20% of heat in an average home is lost through ventilation and draughts. On a cold day, walk around your home to check for badly fitting windows, draughty doors, letterboxes without draught excluding brushes, and gaps in floorboards.
You can eliminate draughts by installing a cheap, easy-to-fix brush or PVC seals on all exterior doors and covering your letterbox and keyholes. Draught proofing your home could save you £30 off your heating bill.
Consider changing your supplier using one of the following websites:-
New Gas Boilers
British Gas are offering discounts on new boilers for those over 60. Ring 08457 754 754 for details.