Five Things That Could Save You Over £1,200 as Water and Energy Bills are Set to Increase this April
April 1st will bring a 26% increase to household water bills plus up to a 10% increase in energy prices as new caps are set to take effect, making daily essentials like kettles, washing machines, and baths even more expensive to run. Google searches for “energy price cap” have skyrocketed 181% while searches for “water bills increase” have soared 130% in the past month as the hike in utility costs encroaches.
To help people manage the upcoming increases, we spoke with the energy experts at Bionic and now, they have pulled together some tips to reduce energy and water consumption to mitigate the planned price hikes.
How much will bills be increasing?
From 1st April, the average household water bill will rise to £603 per year, a 26% increase which will add roughly £10 extra per month to bills. Meanwhile, the energy price cap for April to June 2025 will increase to £1,849 per year for a typical household using both gas and electricity on a Direct Debit plan, which is a 6.4% rise from the previous cap.
Unit rates for energy are also climbing. Electricity will be increasing from 24.86p per kWh to 27.03p per kWh (over an 8% rise) and gas will be going up from 6.34p per kWh to 6.99p per kWh (around a 10% increase).
How to reduce your utility bills
Les Roberts, energy expert at Bionic, said: “These increases will be felt most in areas where water and energy use go hand in hand. Running a hot bath, taking a long shower, or even using a dishwasher or washing machine will all cost more, as they rely on both water usage and heating.”
Here, Les has shared five tips for saving on water and energy as bills are set to increase from April:
- Consider switching to a water meter
If you’re on a standard rate, you pay a fixed amount regardless of usage. A water meter ensures you only pay for what you use, which can lead to significant savings, with some people saying they’ve saved over £1,000 a year.
- Fix leaks and drips
A dripping tap might seem minor, but even a slow leak can waste up to 180 litres of water per day, which amounts to 66,000 litres per year. This unnecessary waste could add £100 or more to your annual water bill, so fixing leaks quickly helps cut costs.
- Only run full loads of washing
Washing machines and dishwashers use the same amount of energy and water whether full or half-empty. Running only full loads reduces the number of cycles, cutting water and energy use while lowering bills.
- Reduce your thermostat
Lowering your thermostat by just one degree could save the average household around £90 annually and as we enter the warmer spring months, there will be even less need to rely on heating.
- Turn appliances off at the plug
Devices left on standby still consume energy which can add £55 to £65 per year to household bills. Switching appliances off at the plug when they’re not in use is a simple way to cut waste and lower costs.
For further reading and info, click the links below:
Money Saving Expert, Cut your water bills
Top Trades People, Why Leaving A Dripping Tap Will Cost You Money
Energy Saving Trust, Quick tips to save energy
Energy Saving Trust (2024) The most economical ways to use your central heating