Latest news with #NatalieMathie
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.
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Why your air fryer is costing you MORE to cook with than a normal oven
COOKING your Sunday roast or favourite meal in an air fryer could actually be costing you more than using an oven. Sales of air fryers have surged in recent years as the high cost of living forces households to think of cost-effective ways to cook their food. 1 An energy expert has revealed using air fryers isn't always the cheapest cooking option Credit: Getty But the nifty devices aren't always the cheapest option when it comes to rustling up your favourite dish. The appliances are generally best for cooking smaller meals due to their petite trays. However, for anything larger like a full Sunday roast, it might be more cost-effective to use an oven. Natalie Mathie, energy expert at explained: "Air fryers and microwaves are great for cooking small meals, as you don't need to waste energy heating the whole oven. '(But) there are times when the oven comes out on top – and that's usually when you're cooking a large meal with lots of elements, like a roast dinner. "Putting them in the oven all together means you're using its full capacity, making it a more cost-effective option. 'Using the air fryer to cook individual parts – like roast potatoes, veg and meat – separately would mean having the device running constantly for hours." Figures from Uswitch suggest cooking a half leg of lamb, roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings costs around 54p in a two kilowatt oven, using it for up to an hour. But cook all these three items one after the other in a 1.4 kilowatt air fryer and it'll cost around 73p - 19p more expensive. The price loophole has previously been explored by consumer champion Martin Lewis who warned microwaves, as well as air fryers, aren't always cheaper than standard ovens. He said on an episode of his BBC Radio 5 podcast: "If you're doing a jacket potato in the microwave for 10 minutes it's going to be far cheaper than doing a single jacket potato in an oven and keeping it on for an hour and a half. What is the energy price cap? "However if you were doing a full roast dinner and you were cooking many of them, that is where it's probably cheaper than putting five or six jacket potatoes in a microwave. "This is because each additional object you put in a microwave, you need to keep it on longer because a microwave just heats the individual object." It's important to note that any savings you make using an oven compared to a microwave or air fryer are based on a number of variables and you won't always save cash. For example, some items need to be boiled or cooked on the hob before being placed in the oven and finished off. In any case, it's worth figuring out the cost of running your cooking appliances so you can work out how to make savings. You can work out how much a device might cost you to run by doing a bit of simple maths. The equation is: Cost = power (kilowatt) x cost of one kWh (pence) x the length of time. You'll need to know how much you are being charged for one unit of gas or electricity though. For example, if you have a two kilowatt electric oven, under the current price cap it currently costs you 54.06p to run per hour. This is the current cost of one kilowatt of electricity (27.03p) multiplied by two. How to monitor your energy usage One quick way to monitor how much a specific appliance is costing is by using a smart plug. These gadgets can tell you how much electricity an appliance is churning through. Some also let you enter the price you pay for energy and then it works out the cost for you. Smart meters can also help you track the cost of energy by telling you how much energy you're using in real time. What energy bill help is available? There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by. If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter. This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period. If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal. Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills. But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances. For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund. EDF, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too. Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR). The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill. Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling. Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
22-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
Why your air fryer is costing you MORE to cook with than a normal oven
COOKING your Sunday roast or favourite meal in an air fryer could actually be costing you more than using an oven. Sales of air fryers have surged in recent years as the high cost of living forces households to think of cost-effective ways to cook their food. 1 But the nifty devices aren't always the cheapest option when it comes to rustling up your favourite dish. The appliances are generally best for cooking smaller meals due to their petite trays. However, for anything larger like a full Sunday roast, it might be more cost-effective to use an oven. Natalie Mathie, energy expert at explained: "Air fryers and microwaves are great for cooking small meals, as you don't need to waste energy heating the whole oven. '(But) there are times when the oven comes out on top – and that's usually when you're cooking a large meal with lots of elements, like a roast dinner. "Putting them in the oven all together means you're using its full capacity, making it a more cost-effective option. 'Using the air fryer to cook individual parts – like roast potatoes, veg and meat – separately would mean having the device running constantly for hours." Figures from Uswitch suggest cooking a half leg of lamb, roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings costs around 54p in a two kilowatt oven, using it for up to an hour. But cook all these three items one after the other in a 1.4 kilowatt air fryer and it'll cost around 73p - 19p more expensive. The price loophole has previously been explored by consumer champion Martin Lewis who warned microwaves, as well as air fryers, aren't always cheaper than standard ovens. He said on an episode of his BBC Radio 5 podcast: "If you're doing a jacket potato in the microwave for 10 minutes it's going to be far cheaper than doing a single jacket potato in an oven and keeping it on for an hour and a half. "However if you were doing a full roast dinner and you were cooking many of them, that is where it's probably cheaper than putting five or six jacket potatoes in a microwave. "This is because each additional object you put in a microwave, you need to keep it on longer because a microwave just heats the individual object." It's important to note that any savings you make using an oven compared to a microwave or air fryer are based on a number of variables and you won't always save cash. For example, some items need to be boiled or cooked on the hob before being placed in the oven and finished off. In any case, it's worth figuring out the cost of running your cooking appliances so you can work out how to make savings. You can work out how much a device might cost you to run by doing a bit of simple maths. The equation is: Cost = power (kilowatt) x cost of one kWh (pence) x the length of time. You'll need to know how much you are being charged for one unit of gas or electricity though. For example, if you have a two kilowatt electric oven, under the current price cap it currently costs you 54.06p to run per hour. This is the current cost of one kilowatt of electricity (27.03p) multiplied by two. How to monitor your energy usage One quick way to monitor how much a specific appliance is costing is by using a smart plug. These gadgets can tell you how much electricity an appliance is churning through. Some also let you enter the price you pay for energy and then it works out the cost for you. Smart meters can also help you track the cost of energy by telling you how much energy you're using in real time. What energy bill help is available? There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by. If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter. This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period. If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal. Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills. But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances. For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000. British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund. EDF, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too. Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR). The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill. Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling. Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
