New analysis is shining light on the cost of living “tensions” among British families when it come to energy usage of household appliances. Energy bills are set to rise tomorrow as Ofgem’s price cap increases to £1,738 for the average household per year.
The price hike comes as new research from MoneySuperMarket reveals growing tensions in homes over energy waste. A quarter of Brits report being frustrated with family members’ wasteful energy habits this winter, according to the survey.
Based on the research, simple actions like leaving lights on in empty rooms and keeping televisions running when no one is watching have become major points of contention between household members.
Leaving lights on in empty rooms emerged as the biggest source of household energy tension, with 42 per cent of Brits citing this as their top complaint. This wasteful habit topped the list of energy bill-related frustrations, significantly ahead of other common household disputes.
The survey revealed that more than two in five people are irritated by family members who fail to switch off lights when leaving rooms. MoneySuperMarket’s research coincides with the Christmas shopping season in which people are already feeling cost of living stress.
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‘Tensions’ are bubbling among British families ahead of the price cap rise
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“With the average household energy bill set to rise to £1,738 in January, it’s understandable that wasting energy can give rise to tensions at home,” says Kara Gammell, energy expert at MoneySuperMarket.
These tensions come at a particularly sensitive time as families face heightened cost of living concerns over the festive period.
Television habits rank as the second biggest cause of household energy disputes, with 29 per cent of Brits frustrated by TVs left on when nobody is watching.
Leaving doors open and allowing draughts to circulate irritates a quarter of households, according to the research.
Device charging habits are another significant source of tension, with 22 per cent reporting frustration over devices being left on charge longer than necessary.
Taking excessive time in the shower emerged as the fifth most common complaint, with 18 per cent of households citing this as an issue.
Other notable sources of conflict include wearing inappropriate clothing and expecting the heating to compensate (18 per cent), and leaving windows open while the heating is running (15 per cent).
Running hot water taps continuously instead of filling sinks (13 per cent) and leaving ovens on unnecessarily (12 per cent) also feature among the top household energy disputes.
Outdoor lighting habits round out the top ten grievances, with 10 per cent reporting tension over leaving external lights on. Gammell emphasises the importance of adopting good household habits to manage rising energy costs.
“Adopting good habits as a family and making simple changes, such as turning off lights or televisions when you’re not using them and unplugging devices from standby where possible, can help reduce your energy costs,” she explains.
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Specific savings figures from the Energy Saving Trust highlight potential household economies. Switching off appliances rather than leaving them on standby could save £45 annually per household.
Reducing shower times to four minutes could lead to even greater savings, with typical households potentially saving £60 per year. These savings become particularly significant as energy bills rise to the new cap level.
MoneySuperMarket advises households to compare energy deals to ensure they’re on the best value tariff.
The company’s SuperSaveClub offers additional rewards for those who switch to qualifying energy providers.
