Britons could spend an extra £52 million a week on energy bills amid coronavirus outbreak
BRITONS in self-isolatation could be in for a shock when they see their energy bills skyrocket in the next couple of months, as according to new research the UK could spend an extra £52 million a week on household energy bills as an estimated 16.8 million people stay at home amid the coronavirus outbreak.
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Research conducted by Uswitch.com - the comparison and switching service - found that with the surge in the number of people staying home due to the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, outbreak could lift Britain’s household energy bills by £52 million a week.
According to Uswitch, approximately 16.77 million people will be staying at home in a bid to delay the spread of COVID-19.
During these times people will be using more gas and electricity when typically their home would be empty due to being at work or at school.
But as everyone is forced into self-isolation, the comparison and switching service estimate that households, where people are working from home, will use an additional 25 percent more electricity and 17 percent more gas per day — which adds up to a potential yearly increase of up to £195 per household or £16 per month for customers on expensive Standard Variable Tariffs.
However, currently, the energy industry is working with the government to help households affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
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Cordelia Samson, an energy expert at Uswitch.com, 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.
“It’s great to see what energy firms are doing to keep the most vulnerable people supplied with gas and electricity, and we would urge all suppliers to continue to work together to protect those in need."
She continued: “Working from home and entertaining children during the day means having the heating on when it wouldn’t usually be and using extra gas and electricity for cooking, making cups of tea, televisions, and computers.
“The amount of extra energy households use will vary from home to home, but assuming a household with medium annual usage is at home for an extra 50 hours per week, we've estimated that they will probably use around 25 percent more electricity and 17 percent more gas right now.
"Across a whole year, this could increase bills for people on poor value Standard Variable Tariffs by almost £200 - around £16 a month.
"But don't forget that warmer lighter days are on their way, so while it looks like we could be stuck at home for quite a while, we probably won't need to use as much gas and electricity as we did over the winter.
"There are plenty of ways you can reduce the amount of energy use around your home, however, and if you're concerned about the amount you're paying, you should compare energy deals to see if there is a cheaper plan you can move to."
Why would energy bills increase?
Workers who would likely be out between the hours of 8am and 6pm, for example, will use more energy by boiling the kettle, using the heating, having lights on, using their computer and television, and charging devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
What are UK energy providers doing amid coronavirus outbreak?
Measures announced for struggling energy customers include reassessing, reducing or pausing debt repayments and bill payments, and not disconnecting any household.
Suppliers will make some decisions on a case-by-case basis, so anyone who is struggling with their bill or repayment plan should contact their provider to explain their situation and agree on what form of help their energy company can give.
Top ten energy-saving tips for self-isolation
Saving energy in the kitchen
Energy-saving laundry tips
• Hang up your laundry. Air-dry your laundry rather than tumble-drying it, particularly if the weather is warm or windy.
Save electricity around the home
Save energy around the house