Sally is a utility savings expert with a passion for helping people make space for the things that matter this winter. She works in residential and commercial energy utilities and believes that it’s time for people to take their power back when it comes to the cost of living crisis.

Autumn is here and I love that cosy feeling of a big jumper, warm soups, and the glow of evening lighting as the nights get longer. It is the time of year where we reset ourselves to routine, nourishing our bodies well, and contemplating what we and our families need as the inevitable winter season approaches. I guess the added weight over these last couple of years has been the constant pressures of seeing costs at home increase and no more so than these last few months. I mean even the phrase “the cost of living” is really quite ghastly if you think about it too long.

Are there any fixed rates available?
Energy bills have doubled since last winter and the media has certainly made sure we are aware of every inch of increase while the government is now making us all extra aware of how they are going to help. Up until a very short time ago energy consultants like myself were encouraging people to get a fixed rate, which, wasn’t the worst move for some but it has left people rather confused about what they really could be paying from October 1st, bearing in mind that you won’t see the bill for October until November 2022. I mean the bottom line now is that there is no such thing as a “fixed rate” as the government have acted to fix the rate of energy in the form of the EPG (Energy Price Guarantee) for two years. Simply put the EPG is a fixed rate in itself so at least we know where we stand in some ways for the next two years.

How are energy bills calculated and how will the new fixed rate (EPG) affect me?
Our energy bills are calculated with two main costs included, the usage and how the supply gets to your home. These are called the standing day charge and the unit rate, and both of these vary depending on whether we are talking about gas or electric. The measures that the government put in place on September 8th, as mentioned above, come in the form of the EPG which is a limit that has been put on what the supplier can charge for the unit and the standing day charge to the consumer. So, even though the £2500 price cap figure has been banded around for a while it doesn’t mean this is all you will pay for your energy, what anyone of us will actually pay is fully based on what your usage is. 

Personal note - We went from talking in percentage increase to the fixed rate being the focus point, so I for one want to just note this confusing change of language hasn’t been at all helpful to the average consumer. 

What are the figures looking like in real time?
With the governments EPG in place we will now be looking at an approximate 27% increase on our variable tariffs but please note, for some who signed up to a fixed rate over six months ago you might be in a better position to stick with this till the end of the term of your contract. Your provider should explain this all in a letter as we at Utility Warehouse are doing for all our customers, after all clear communication is key. 

From the figures we now have to work with the price for a unit of electricity and gas are as follows. You can see clearly see what the prices started at, what they were projected to be, and what they now will be under the EPG. 

Electricity
September:                                                        28.34p/kWh
Previous projected increase before EPG:          52p/kWh
October EPG for next two years:                       34p/kWh

Gas
September:                                                         7.3p/kWh
Previous projected increase before EPG:          15p/kWh
October EPG for next two years:                       10.3p/kWh

Either way you look at this we are still looking at a significant increase, even if it’s not as bad as we thought it might be.

Saving time is possible, saving money is guaranteed 
Although we are all in the same storm in many ways the increase in living costs will affect each household differently, after all it might be the same storm but we are all in uniquely different boats, for lack of another analogy.  Some households will struggle with even the slightest increase, while others might have a little bit of a wake up call when it comes to their home energy use in general. I am speaking with a mixture of people but at the end of the day the questions are pretty much the same and I believe that despite the challenges we can take our power back (pun intended) and get a bit more of a handle on how to save money, save energy, and save valuable time this winter to focus on the things that matter.

I am passionate about helping people and I have worked with Utility Warehouse for over two years, seeing people save money by bringing all their bills under one umbrella. The system is built on the power of simplification and the fact that we have been able to save people more money due to the way Utility Warehouse purchase their wholesale energy. There really are many benefits to having your energy, broadband, family saver mobile sim packages, and home emergency and boiler insurance all on one account with one account number and one customer services.

Extra money off just for spending money
Finally customers can save extra money by using the Utility Warehouse Cashback Card. At 1% cashback everywhere, 3% at Sainsburys, 5% at Boots, 4% at Clarks and up to 10% cashback at lots of other retailers there really is nothing more satisfying than seeing that extra money come off your bill each month, just for spending the money you do anyway. 

Next steps
When I work with you to review your bills we look at the estimated annual usage figure for your energy, what you are paying for your broadband and what the speeds are, and where mobiles can be easily moved over to sim only usage too. The more you bundle the more you save and Utility Warehouse guarantee up to 5% off the government price cap meaning there really are significant savings to be had. 

As an example new customers can benefit from a market leading variable rate. If you switch four services to Utility Warehouse you can save up to £506 compared to leading competitors. This includes the £50 free top up on the cashback card and the 5% off the government price cap. If you want to find out more about Utility Warehouse and learn more about them from a business point of view you will find them on the Stockmarket as Telecoms Plus as they started their work in telecoms only.

So, where does this leave you? The everyday consumer of energy in Reigate and surrounding areas!? 
Well, I’m hear to help lighten the load in more ways than one. My services are free and I am also available to speak to local groups too. If you are a local business I also work in commercial utilities and I believe it is imperative that you work with a consultant at this time as the commercial energy market is a very different beast to residential. 

For more information please visit www.currentutilities.co.uk or email Sally directly at sally@currentutilities.co.uk. You will also find her on Instagram @currentutilities giving daily updates and tips on how to review your usage and take action on using less energy around your home and business.