Guide to running costs

You can save money by understanding how much energy your appliances use. And making small changes will help you make some big savings.

 How can I work this out?

Most appliances now have an energy efficiency rating shown on them. If they don’t, look for the serial number on the appliance and you’ll find the wattage. The lower the rating (which means a higher wattage), the more electricity it will use.

For example, a 1kW (kilowatt or 1000 watt) heater uses one unit of electricity per hour, whilst a 100-watt light bulb uses one unit of electricity every 10 hours.

You can find more details about how much electricity your appliances use and how to reduce costs by visiting our energy efficiency pages. We have a wide range of energy efficient appliances available through our online shop.

 If your bill is higher than expected

If your bill is higher than expected take a look at our comparing bills page – there may be an explanation for this.

If you feel there’s no explanation for your higher bill, it’s possible one of your appliances could be faulty. If you think there could be a problem with one of your appliances, it’s a good idea to arrange for a qualified electrician to look at it.

For added peace of mind and a guarantee for any work done, you should choose an electrician approved by the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC).

Your local directory should provide a list of approved electricians. But you can search for a local contractor by using the NICEIC website.