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Daily Mirror
01-08-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
UK postcodes with highest energy bills named as warning sent to millions
According to the Government's latest available data, the CR0 postcode in Croydon, South London, used the most combined electricity and gas in 2023 - twice as much as other boroughs Around 2.5 million households across the UK have been issued a warning as the areas with the highest energy consumption have been disclosed. The most recent government data has pinpointed the UK postcodes with the greatest electricity and gas usage, alongside warnings for households on Economy 7 tariffs. As of 30 June 2025, the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) began its phase-out, meaning the radio signal that operates Economy 7 meters will eventually be deactivated, rendering meter control impossible. This switch-off will impact energy customers who have an RTS meter in their property, potentially disrupting their heating and hot water supply. However, meters are currently being replaced nationwide in a phased manner to minimise disruption. It comes after Martin Lewis warned 'nothing to do with me' after complaints from money savers. Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, previously issued a warning to households in June. Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, he stated: "Got an old Economy 7 or multi-rate electricity meter? The 'Radio Teleswitch Service' which allows some old (non-smart) meters to function will be switched off at end of this month. It could mean your heating and hot water won't function properly, or incorrect bills. You need a meter upgrade now." As reported by Manchester Evening News, the latest available Government data said that the CR0 postcode in Croydon, London had the highest combined electricity and gas usage in 2023. UK postcodes with the highest electricity use The CR0 postcode witnessed 224,034,930.99 kWh of electricity consumption across 61,886 households in the region. This equates to an average of 3,620.12 per household, which is nearly 1000 kWh above the national average of 2,700. kWh used - Electricity CR0 224034930.99 E14 171017722.06 LE2 150549144.34 LE3 141917617.09 SL6 141616301.55 N1 131078524.94 BN2 129748451.88 SE1 125601027.36 E17 124215668.64 BN3 121700778.81 READ MORE: Thousands of people to get free £290 payment this year - see who is eligible UK postcodes with the highest gas consumption For gas usage, the identical postcode recorded 61,886 households consuming 695,027,142.56 kWh, positioning them marginally below the national average of 11,500 kWh at approximately 11,230 kWh per household. kWh Used - Gas CR0 695027142.56 LE2 570963489.32 LE3 482089812.55 LE4 463536589.02 NG5 436596630.24 LE5 426926424.31 SL6 426231598.44 ST5 414291175.62 CV6 401969225.78 SW19 394512742.79 Steve Ferguson from Jefferson Gas offered some energy-saving advice for residents adapting to new metres and tariffs following the switch-off. "The advantage of Economy 7 tariffs has always been the ability to carry out tasks that use a lot of energy at times when the pricing is lower or 'off peak'," he explained. "With the RTS switch-off meaning that this may no longer be possible, people who have relied on this to cut their energy bills may find themselves having to change their habits in order to adapt." Steve continued: "While it would require an initial investment, those with the available budget may wish to change their electric heating system to Gas, as per unit, electricity on average is around 25 pence per KWH with a daily standing charge of 51 pence, and gas is on average around 6-7 pence per unit. Depending on your consumption, you may be able to recoup your investment in a relatively short amount of time." He added: "Similarly, it's worth checking the energy efficiency ratings of any older appliances and updating them where possible, as this will minimise the amount of energy used in everyday tasks such as cooking or laundry. Even small steps such as switching from filament to LED lightbulbs can help to lower your consumption. Ultimately however the best way to cut usage is by building better habits." Research from 2018 revealed that households leaving lights blazing throughout the night waste over 3 million pounds every single night in squandered electricity - a figure that would be considerably higher given today's soaring prices. Steven said: "While it's certainly not a new message, remembering to switch off lights when you leave a room is arguably more important now that more people are working from home." "If you have the space, hang clothes to dry on sunny days instead of using the tumble drier. When you make a cup of tea or coffee, only boil as much water as you need and while a long bath is a great way to relax, a 4 minute shower will use a lot less energy for the same result," he concluded.
The Sun
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
My energy bill will rocket by £1,136 and limit showers and heating when my meter is switched off in days
PENSIONER Ernest Mustoe fears he will have to pay hundreds of pounds extra a year and limit when he uses his shower or heating because of a huge energy meter switch off. The 78-year-old lives on his own in a four-bedroom house in rural Aberdeenshire and has a heating system partly controlled by a Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meter. 3 3 The Government has said it will start switching off RTS meters in a phased approach from June 30 so that households can be moved onto more modern types of meters. The old-style RTS meters use longwave radio frequency to switch between peak and off-peak rates. Energy firms have been given a deadline of tomorrow to change customers onto modern meters but the regulator has warned that anyone switching should not be left out of pocket. Ernest is one of 310,000 households with an RTS meter. But he has a complex set-up with two electric meters - one for domestic supply and another for heating, which uses RTS technology. His heating is on a standard variable tariff which controls timed power to storage heaters and a water heater in his home, while his panel heaters, a water boost and shower are controlled by the RTS meter. EDF told Ernest in July last year it wanted to switch him to a single smart meter on an Economy 7 tariff. Economy 7 tariffs track day and night use of electricity separately, with cheaper energy offered during night-time hours. This means you can save money if you tend to use more energy at night - but the day rate is often more expensive than if you were on a normal tariff. I lost £7,000 after a British Gas smart meter billing error destroyed my credit score Ernest estimated that switching from his current set-up to an Economy 7 tariff would cost him £2,954. He's currently paying an estimated £1,818 a year so that's a huge increase of £1,136. It would also require rewiring in his home costing an extra £300. Ernest also says the system he's being offered would leave him unable to use his panel heater, shower and water booth at certain times of the day - including between 10am and 4pm. "All the options offered would basically render my heating system useless, or cost so much to run that it would not be viable," he told The Sun. "It's an absolute disgrace... there's no suitable replacement for my meter. "The only solution they've offered means I will be limited on when I can shower and during the winter I could be left without any backup heating options." In March, this year he complained to Energy Ombudsman, who said the most suitable option with EDF would be to move him on to an Economy 7 tariff. Rejected by other suppliers It advised him to check with other suppliers but Ernest said each company refused to give him a quote until he moved to a smart meter. The ombudsman also recommended EDF pay a £150 goodwill payment for not telling him sooner that it could not offer him an equivalent set-up. But Ernest felt this wasn't a resolution and turned down the payment, instead hoping to resolve the issue directly with EDF. Last week, the retired Met Police inspector was told he could be moved to a twin meter set-up. But Ernest says even with this it means he would still be left paying more and without heating at certain times of day. He has now been told by EDF that if he doesn't make a decision by July 1, he will automatically be moved onto a standard variable rate tariff. He estimates this would increase his bills even further to £2,966 a year - a huge increase of 47% and an extra £950 a year. Why can't they move me to a like-for-like meter "I think they are overcomplicating it to make it look like it's such a difficult setup that I've got," Ernest says. "And yet there must be thousands of customers on this system. You know, this isn't a sort of a system that was dreamt up just for me." A spokesperson for EDF said that Ernest has a "complex meter set up" and is on a historical energy tariff. EDF says they have offered Ernest an option where he could access an Economy 7 tariff that means he would have access to heating and his shower during the day. It added: "We aim to offer like-for-like arrangements wherever possible, however, in some cases, there may not be a direct equivalent to previous industry tariffs. In such instances, we will offer customers the next best available option." However, Ernest disagrees and does not think that the option would be suitable for him. Ernest says all he wants is to carry on as he is, with a meter that keeps on working and won't cost him hundreds of pounds extra. EDF says that if he doesn't make a decision about his RTS meter he is at risk of losing his heating and hot water. The regulator Ofgem has said no customers on RTS meters should be left worse off. A spokesperson said: "We have made clear to suppliers that we expect them to treat customers fairly – not only in terms of shielding households from unnecessary costs but also offering the same or equivalent tariffs after their RTS meter has been upgraded. " It is crucial that customers are protected at every stage of the phased shutdown, and we are spelling out to suppliers key requirements that must be met before an area loses its RTS signal. "While this carefully managed phaseout process should reassure customers, it remains crucial that these meters are replaced urgently so it's vital to engage with your supplier when offered an appointment." What is happening with RTS meters? Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters are set to be switched off in less than a week's time. Hundreds of thousands of customers on Economy 7 and other multi-rate energy tariffs use these meters, which charge customers cheaper rates depending on the time of day. The switch-off means anyone who does not switch to a smart meter could find their heating or hot water does not work properly. Suppliers have been urging customers to switch before the deadline and have been individually contacting people to book a smart meter installation appointment. Smart meters have the same features as RTS meters and can record different prices at different times of the day, which are offered by Economy 7 tariffs. They use a digital signal and can show your energy usage in real time. In some cases switching to a smart meter can save you money, particularly as there are more smart meter tariffs than RTS meter ones. However in some cases like Ernest's, it appears some consumers are being left out of pocket by the switch. Plus, one in 10 smart meters are thought to not be working properly according to Ofgem. Some customers have said that their smart meter monitor has a broken display or it will not connect to the network. How to check if you have an RTS meter It is easy to tell if your meter is an RTS one. The oldest RTS-powered meters have a switch box labelled "Radio Teleswitch" located next to the electric meter. Others may have the RTS switch box within the electric meter as a single box on the wall. One way to tell is if you get cheaper energy at different times of the day. You may be on a tariff called Economy 7, Economy 10 or Total Heat Total Control. Another way to tell is if your home is heated using electricity or storage heaters, according to Energy UK. RTS meters are also often used in areas with no gas supply, for example with high rise flats or houses in rural areas. If your home is in one of these locations then it is worth checking your meter. If you are still unsure then contact your supplier and ask if you have RTS equipment. They should be able to tell you if you have one. If you have one of these meters then you should book a smart meter installation as soon as you can.
Powys County Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Letter: Smart meter deadline worries of Powys residents
Like many other rural homes it is not possible to fit a smart meter in my house. I rely on storage heaters and the Economy 7 tariff but I have seen information that after the switch at the end of June this will either mean higher bills or power will be totally cut off. It seems that the industry is relying on customers to request a smart meter but I have found that no-one else in my area seems to know about this. Therefore I am hoping that you can print a warning to all your readers plus some information for those of us who due to our distance from the signal cannot have a smart meter fitted.
Business Mayor
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Can Britons be persuaded to switch off when the wind doesn't blow?
At home in Sunderland, north-east England, Walt Scales and wife Alexis try to finish their washing and cooking by 5pm. Ovo Energy, their electricity supplier, enters them into a prize draw for cutting usage from the mains supply between 5pm and 7pm on weekdays. For the retired bus driver, who switches to a small household battery for essentials in the evening, the benefits are more than financial. 'It means we can relax totally from 5pm, so it's kind of enriched [our lives]. There's more time for each other,' he said. The couple are responding to a push by energy companies and officials to encourage households and businesses to change their habits and adjust electricity use according to supply, as part of the government's goal of decarbonising the electricity system by 2030. This could mean avoiding peak times, such as the teatime rush, or using more power at times of high wind. Along with zonal electricity pricing, it is one way to lessen the amount of new grid capacity that needs to be built and potentially keep costs down. New tariffs, trials and schemes are under way around the country, and the National Energy System Operator wants to see up to five times the current level of flexible power demand in order to meet the national 2030 clean power target. But NESO concedes there are a 'broad range of views' about the feasibility of that goal, which will require technological and commercial developments — and big changes for consumers. 'I think it [demand flexibility] has to happen,' said Laura Sandys, chair of the Green Alliance and board member at EV charging company Ohme Global. '[But] it's probably the most complex part of the jigsaw. This is all about customers.' Walt Scales switches to a small household battery for essentials in the evening © Ian Forsyth/FT Consumers have been encouraged to use electricity outside of peak hours for decades, through 'Economy 7' tariffs offering cheaper power at night, or lower network charges for factories outside peak times. But the idea is taking on more importance given the effort to shift away from fossil fuels, which involves moving from petrol cars and gas-fired boilers to electric cars and heat pumps powered by renewable electricity. Electricity supply and demand have to be matched second by second to maintain system stability. But unlike coal and gas-fired power plants, wind and solar farms depend on the weather and cannot be so easily controlled in line with consumer needs. Demand needs to adjust instead. Excess power can be stored in the form of batteries or hydropower plants, ready to be discharged when needed. But officials believe households and businesses adjusting their behaviour could also help, by, for example, charging electric cars when it is sunny and windy, or turning down industrial freezers when it is not. This is the second part in a series on the future of Britain's electricity grid Spreading demand across the day could also cut the investment required in electricity networks, since they would not have to cope with such heavy peak loads. British wind farms often have to switch off if they are producing more than consumers can use at that time, owing to a lack of grid capacity. 'Flexibility services are crucial for transitioning to a net zero network,' said Northern Powergrid, which serves swaths of northern England. The Berkshire Hathaway-owned company has been offering up to £900 per megawatt hour — more than 10 times the typical rate for electricity bought a day ahead — for business and household consumers to shift their consumption when needed. UK Power Networks, which serves London and south-east England, said it had 100,000 'assets' registered on its network whose demand can be increased or reduced as needed. The network companies' offerings come on top of NESO's national voluntary 'demand-flexibility service', under which households are paid to cut electricity use if a shortage looms. Introduced at the height of the energy crisis in winter 2022, the scheme was initially popular, but critics fear the recent removal of a guaranteed payment level will dent enthusiasm. 'Customers [need] to see and feel good value from doing this,' said Kieron Stopforth, head of flexibility at Octopus Energy, the UK's largest household energy supplier. 'A bit of funding early on can help seed growth.' Octopus and other companies offer or are developing time-of-use tariffs where prices incentivise consumers to respond to constant fluctuations in supply, boosted by market reforms and the rollout of smart meters, which are in about 60 per cent of homes. Combined with plans for regional electricity pricing, the tariffs could lead to consumers in Scotland charging their cars very cheaply when it is windy in the North Sea. The time-of-use model has many enthusiastic proponents. 'Essentially, my fuel for the car is two pence per mile,' said Tesla owner Iain Turner, a customer of Octopus's Intelligent Go tariff. He also sets his washing machine, tumble dryer and, in the summer, swimming pool pump to come on at night. 'About 50-60 per cent of my electricity is now at a cheap rate,' added the Colchester resident. Yet there is also the risk of consumers missing out on benefits if they are less engaged, or get caught out by surge pricing, the flip side of some tariffs offering ultra-cheap electricity at certain times. 'Overall we see [flexibility] as an opportunity for consumers,' said Andy Manning, head of energy systems transformation at consumer watchdog Citizens Advice. '[But] it needs to be underpinned by effective protections [for them].' Industrial users' appetite for shifting their electricity use varies. Some factories are already running power-hungry machinery during brief spells of negative electricity prices triggered by surges in supply. But dialling up and down is not always suitable because it can damage equipment. Getting users on board is not the only challenge. A study in November of 900 homes, 408 of which had electric vehicles or an electric vehicle charger, showed their electricity demand peaked in the middle of the night when cheap overnight tariffs kicked in. 'There's a certain critical mass where you've created a peak somewhere else through herding behaviour,' said Claire Rowland, at Energy Systems Catapult, a government-backed research and technology organisation, that carried out the study. Iain Turner sets his car, washing machine, tumble dryer and swimming pool pump to come on at night © Daniel Jones/FT Trials are also under way to see whether households can be flexible about when they run heat pumps. That could involve switching them on a few hours before they come home and then off during peak times, relying on the home to hold warmth for a few hours. In a survey at the end of a trial run by National Grid and others last year, known as Equinox, about half of the participants reported discomfort 'sometimes' for themselves or other household residents from using power more flexibly. But almost all — 91 per cent — said this was 'mild'. The University of Wales Trinity St David, Lampeter, has installed technology that automatically turns down electric heating in students' rooms when the local network provider is looking for electricity savings. Dan Priddy, head of sustainability at the university, said it might be rolled out further, but noted 'we wouldn't want it to come on midway during a washing [machine] cycle'. Voltalis, the French company behind the technology, has said it plans to invest £1bn in Britain by 2030, following market reforms last year that allow aggregators to be paid for saving, rather than generating, electricity. Randall Bowen, managing director in the UK for Voltalis, said: 'The opportunity is greater in the UK than we've seen in other countries.' Despite many uncertainties Scales, whose prize draw entries could win him a year's worth of free energy, is happy to be at the forefront of a changing system. 'I never stop talking about it,' he said. 'It's important that people pay attention to national consideration.' Data visualisation by Janina Conboye
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Easy energy bill mistake that could see you paying hundreds of pounds more
A SIMPLE energy bill mistake could see you paying hundreds of pounds more than you should be. Energy bills remain high for millions of households with the Ofgem price cap set at £1,849 a year. 1 This is the average amount a household on a dual-fuel tariff paying by direct debit is having to fork out. So it pays to cut costs where possible. Make one simple mistake and you could end up paying out hundreds of pounds more on your electricity than you should be though. Economy 7 and 10 tariffs charge you two different rates for electricity based on the time of day. You are usually offered a cheaper rate for seven or 10 hours during the night and a more expensive one during the day time. However, if you're on one of these tariffs and don't make the most of the off-peak rates, you could end up paying more than if you were on a standard tariff. Natalie Mathie, energy expert at Uswitch, said the simple error could end up costing you £219 more a year under the current price cap. She explained: "One major UK energy provider charges 34p per kWh for electricity to its standard customers, on average. "Its night rate for Economy 7 tariff customers is just over 16p per kWh, compared with more than 42p during the day — which is around a fifth (21%) more expensive than the unit rate on a standard tariff. "But the average UK household uses 2,700kWh of electricity a year, so if they used this all at an Economy 7 day rate of 42p it would cost them £1,138 – compared with only £919 on a standard deal." From TV to energy... tips to save you money on 7 bills that are going up in April Of course, the likelihood of someone being on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff and using all their electricity during peak hours is unlikely. But, in any case, it's worth checking if you're on one of the tariffs using the bulk of your energy during peak times and could save money switching to a standard tariff. You can also quickly find out if you're on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff by checking your bill. If you're considering switching from an Economy 7 tariff to a standard tariff, get in touch with your energy firm. If you're not happy with the rates they're offering you on the new standard tariff, you can always shop around and go with another supplier. What are Economy 7 or 10 tariffs? Economy 7 or 10 tariffs charge you different rates of electricity based on the time of day. Economy 7 tariffs are more common than Economy 10, with cheaper rates for Economy 7 tariffs usually running from midnight to 7am. The main advantage to them is that you can save money on your overall energy bill if you use more electricity during off-peak hours. For example, if you need to charge an electric car or a storage heater, which is an electric appliance that stores heat generated during off-peak hours and releases it during the day. They are also mainly designed for households that generate all their power from electricity rather than electricity and gas. To sign up to an Economy 7 tariff, you'll need a smart meter or a dedicated Economy 7 meter installed in your home. If you think you might be suited to an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, make sure you shop around for the best deals and rates. You can do this through price comparison websites like Go Compare and Uswitch. It's worth bearing in mind, some older Economy 7 meters are set to stop working from later this summer. Any that use the "Radio Teleswitch Service" (RTS) to transmit and receive data will become defunct from July 1. If you think you have an RTS meter, contact your supplier to find out when it can be upgraded, most likely to a smart meter. Some RTS meters have a transmitter or separate teleswitch box next to your electricity meter. How to save money on your energy bills The quickest and surest way of saving money on your energy bills is reducing how much energy you actually use. This means dialling down your thermostat by one or two degrees, or switching halogen lightbulbs for LED ones, which the Energy Saving Trust says saves you around £1-£4 per year per light bulb. Beware of appliances that guzzle through energy as well, including tumble dryers which are notoriously expensive to run. In the current market, you could save money by switching from a standard variable energy tariff to a fixed tariff too. Fixed tariffs charge you the same unit rate for gas and electricity over the contract term rather than standard variable tariffs where the unit rates fluctuate based on the price cap. Whether you'll save money opting for a fixed tariff really depends as you pay different amounts based on where you live and your usage.
