Use Less Hot Water – Gov

After weeks of wrangling between the energy regulator and energy providers over the rising costs of electricity and gas, the Government is telling the public to use less hot water to bring down their bills.

The Consumer Council for Water said it was encouraging people to think about their use of hot water in economic and environmental terms as part of the fifteenth Energy Savings Week.

The Government body said that around one-third of a household's energy bill relates to heating and hot water for use in baths or showers or for washing clothes and dishes.

"By taking simple steps to use hot water more efficiently, households could see a reduction in their energy bill, and those who are charged for their water by meter could see a reduction in their water bill too," a spokesman said.

Last week, the sector's watchdog, Ofgem, exposed energy companies of having recorded increasing profits while the price of power sharply rose. The regulating body made a number of recommendations to the industry, calling for a base tariff that customers could use to compare companies easily.

On Wednesday, consumer interest campaigners Which? said Ofgem should use their upcoming consultation on energy prices to ensure all energy companies to adopt a simple tariff that will make it easier to compare different energy company costs.

Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which?, said: "What Ofgem is suggesting is an important step in the right direction. But it does not go far enough to solve the problems that consumers face with confusing tariffs".

He added: "In our research only one out of the 36 people we tested could work out their energy costs. It's time to clear up the confusion so that energy customers can easily compare different suppliers."

However, despite David Cameron meeting with the energy companies and the regulator last week during an "Energy Summit" to tackle the high cost of energy, the Consumer Council for Water has told the public to reduce their costs by "cutting back on the hot water you use".

Dame Yve Buckland, Chair of the Consumer Council for Water, said: "Taking a few minutes to consider whether you are able to benefit from some simple efficiency tips could pay off in the long run. It could also have the added benefit of helping reduce not only costs but also your carbon footprint."

(DW/GK)