Help With Rising Energy Costs and Energy Saving Tips

Lately, the news has been highlighting the rising cost of living. Food prices are soaring. Energy costs are rising at extraordinary unaffordable rates. And prices are set to rise even more due to the horrendous situation in Ukraine.

Wages aren’t increasing. Benefits aren’t increasing. People are worrying. They’re thinking “heating or eating?”

We received an email from our energy company a few days ago advising of their price increases. I have to say that, despite having seen this on the news, I was shocked. The standing charge for our electricity will increase by almost 100%. We’ll shortly need to order oil for our central heating and when I checked the price of heating oil, I got an even bigger shock.

So our heating has been turned down and being used much less. I always wear multiple layers of clothes but I am wearing even more than before. And we are being as economical as possible with our electricity. We’re not rich by any means but we’ll manage. But so many people won’t.

These price increases will affect everyone but will be especially hard on the elderly, low-income families and the chronically ill or vulnerable members of society. This post explains how to get financial help with those rising energy costs. I have also included some energy saving tips. I hope it helps.

How to Get Help if You Are Struggling Due to the Rising Energy Costs

If you are struggling due to the rising energy costs, there is help available.

The UK government has introduced some measures to try to help some people. Every household will receive a £200 rebate on their electricity bills. However, this will be repaid to the government over the next five years in instalments of £40 each year. Some households will also receive a £150 council tax rebate. To qualify, your house must be in council tax band A – D.

There may be other help available too.

• Contact your energy supplier to explain your situation. They might help by making an affordable payment plan.
• There may be benefits available to you such as the Winter Heating Allowance. This Citizens Advice page has information about grants and benefits which could help.
• If you’re in Scotland, Home Energy Scotland also has helpful advice.
• Your social work office might be able to offer support, will be able to refer you to a food bank if necessary and should have knowledge about any local schemes to help.
• Visit Bounce Back. This has information about benefits and how to get help with energy costs. It is funded by Bristish Gas, but the help is for everyone, no matter which power supplier you use.
• Step Change is a debt charity. If you are struggling with debt or bills, Step Change will help you to apply for Breathing Space in England and Wales. You could get up to 60 days’ respite from interest, fees, and court action to reduce stress and give you time to deal with your debts. In Scotland, there is a similar system called Moratorium. Step Change can help you apply Moratorium too.
• Contact your MP if you are struggling due to the rising energy prices. They need to know how this is affecting people.

Getting the Best Price From Your Supplier

Price comparison websites like U-Switch are normally useful, however, at the moment, there’s probably little or no benefit in changing your energy supplier.

If you use gas, getting your gas and electricity from the same supplier might be cheaper than dealing with two companies. Paying monthly by direct debit can also be cheaper. Switching to paperless bills might entitle you to a small discount.

Rising Energy Costs – Energy Saving Tips

I have seen a few articles on the subject of saving money on energy costs recently so I’ll share some of the tips I’ve found along with a few of my own.

• Draughtproof and insulate your home.
• Ensure your boiler is energy efficient and serviced regularly.
• Turn off any electrical appliances that are on standby.
• Switch off lights that aren’t needed and only use energy saving bulbs.
• Close your curtains or blinds in the evening to help keep the heat in the house.
• Turn your heating down by a couple of degrees.
• Only heat the room you use most often.
• Have a shower rather than a bath.
• Make that a 4 minute shower.
• If you’re cold, wear extra layers and try to exercise or move around more.
• Only do full loads of laundry.
• Avoid using a tumble dryer.
• Only run a dishwasher when it’s full.
• If you wash dishes by hand, save them up to do them once a day.
• Kitchen appliances like microwaves, slow cookers and air fryers are more economical to run than an electric oven.
• Cook one pot meals like stews, soups and casseroles.
• Batch cook then reheat in a microwave.
• Put lids on pots and pans when cooking.
• Fridges and freezer run more economically if they are full.
• Only boil the amount of water you need.
• Boil a full kettle in the morning then fill a flask with the boiling water to use throughout the day.

A Note About Not Using a Tumble Dryer

Tips for combatting the rising energy costs tell you not to use a tumble dryer at all. In good weather, you can line dry laundry but they suggest drying it in the house during bad weather. You will need to open a window, otherwise, the wet washing could create dampness and mould which is very bad for your health. But if you open a window, you’re letting the heat out and the cold in. It’s a no-win situation.

How the Rising Energy Costs Will Affect People Who Live With Chronic Illness or Chronic Pain

The rising energy costs will affect everyone but it will hit people who are living with a chronic illness or live with chronic pain very hard.

Everything in life comes with a price tag attached and, unfortunately, the cost of living with a health condition is a high one. But right now, with the rise in energy costs, it’s got even higher.

People with a chronic illness or chronic pain are often unable to work or they might work from home or need to work reduced hours. So they are normally at home nearly all the time. This means they use more energy than someone who goes to work for eight hours a day.

They’ll use more heating and lighting and will cook and boil kettles more often. Their televisions and computers will probably be switched on most of the day.

They might also need electric heat pads, blankets or electric equipment like heat or infrared lamps or might have electric beds and chairs. These things might sound like luxury items but when living with chronic pain or a chronic illness, the therapy they bring is necessary. Some people also need electric medical equipment (eg dialysis units) in their homes.

Some of these examples might use a minimal amount of electricity, but everything adds up. The rising energy costs will affect people with chronic pain or a chronic illness dramatically.

Some of the tips to save energy might help to save some money but some of them simply wouldn’t be practical for anyone who lives with a chronic health condition.

Some Energy Saving Tips Aren’t Practical For People With Health Problems

Turn Down the Heating and Only Heat One Room

Turning the heating down a few notches will reduce bills but could make some conditions worse.

Only heating one room, means that the rest of the house will be cold. If you choose to heat your living room it will mean that your bedroom, kitchen and bathroom will be cold. Going from that warmer room into a colder room, even just for a few minutes, could have a detrimental impact.

Putting on extra layers of clothes, especially thermals, will be extra important.

The Four Minute Shower

Hmm….I have to say I laughed when I read this energy-saving tip. It might suit fit and healthy people but I don’t think it’s remotely possible if you live with pain or a chronic illness.

Some people might jump into a shower for four minutes and come out feeling invigorated. But when living with pain or illness, everything takes more time. When our bodies hurt, movements are slow. Shampooing and conditioning hair alone takes much longer than four minutes.

Having a shower or a bath is often a form of therapy for people with pain. Soaking in a bath or taking a long hot shower can help painful joints and muscles. A four-minute shower, if even possible, would be rushed and likely result in more pain.

If you decide to only heat one room to save on energy, be kind to yourself and switch on the radiator in the bathroom when you’re having a shower or bath. The therapeutic value will be undone if you start shivering in a cold bathroom.

Exercise

I read an article that suggested exercising to keep warm instead of turning on the heating. It actually mentioned starjumps. If I could do starjumps, I wouldn’t be writing a blog about living with chronic pain.

Being more active is good for most people so I’m not advising against this. It helps circulation and it’s good for the heart. It’s also good for mental health. But, for some people who are disabled or living with pain or a chronic illness, exercise (especially starjumps) might not be possible. Walking from the bedroom to the bathroom might be a struggle. Gentle exercise might be possible, even exercises whilst sitting down might be possible, but they are unlikely to heat you up.

Rising Energy Costs Mean Food Prices Rise Too

When shops and businesses have higher bills to pay, they have to increase their prices accordingly. It wouldn’t be worthwhile running their businesses if they didn’t do that. Food prices have already increased considerably due to the pandemic. Now they will rise again.

Obviously, a rise in food prices will affect everyone. People with children will struggle, elderly people will struggle. Anyone unable to work and bring home a decent income will struggle.

A diet rich in the correct vitamins and minerals is expensive. Fresh fruit and vegetables are expensive. Getting your ‘five a day’ is almost impossible if you have a low income. Fresh meat and fish are too dear for many people too. This is why so many people on low incomes opt for processed foods. They might be less healthy but they are more affordable.

Many people with chronic illnesses or chronic pain need special diets to help their symptoms. Those diets can be more expensive and might be out of their price range. In some instances, special diets are not optional. People with food allergies or intolerances or certain health conditions have strict dietary requirements. For example, I have coeliac disease which means I cannot eat gluten. That’s not by choice. It’s a medical necessity. Gluten-free food products are always more expensive. My grocery bill increased significantly after my coeliac disease diagnosis. As an example, a normal 800g tiger loaf in a Tesco supermarket is only £1.15. A gluten-free tiger loaf that is half the size costs around £3.60.

Always Reach Out for Help if You Are Struggling

I know that people don’t like to ask for help but it’s important you do if you need it. It’s 2022. Nobody should be feeling cold or hungry. There is help available, so please reach out and ask for it if you are struggling.