The Cheap Watts blog
Plain-English guides to paying less for electricity: when to run things, which tariffs suit which homes, and what everyday appliances really cost.
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Autumn Budget 2026: what it means for your energy bills
A £100 payment from January, VAT-free electricity to July 2027 and an end to gas standing charges. What the Budget means for your energy bills.
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How do I read my smart meter and download my half-hourly usage?
Your smart meter records your electricity use every half hour. Here is how to read the numbers, where to find them, and what to do with the file.
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Solar panels in the UK: how much do they generate, and should you use or sell the power?
A 4kW solar system in Leeds makes about 3,800 kWh a year, but 3.5 times more in June than December. Here is what that power is worth used or sold.
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Bleeding radiators, reflector panels and TRVs: what actually helps?
Bleeding fixes cold patches, TRVs stop you heating empty rooms, and reflector panels only help on some walls. What each one does and what to try first.
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How much does an electric blanket cost to run in the UK?
An electric blanket costs about 2.7p an hour to run at today's prices. Worked costs for a winter, how it compares with a heater, and the safety checks.
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Air fryer vs oven vs microwave: which is cheapest per meal?
An air fryer costs about 13p for 30 minutes and an electric oven about 38p an hour at today's UK price. The sum, where the microwave fits, and when to use each.
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Priority Services Register: who can join and what it gives you
The Priority Services Register is free extra help from your energy supplier. Here is who can join, what you get, and how to sign up, based on Ofgem's guidance.
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Does lowering your boiler flow temperature to 60°C really cut your gas bill?
Lowering a condensing combi boiler flow temperature to 60°C is free and can trim gas use. The evidence, a worked saving, and who should not try it.
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Octopus Agile explained: who it suits, and who it doesn't
Agile Octopus charges a different price every half hour. Here is how it works, what a real week of prices looked like, and who saves money on it.
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Draught-proofing on a budget: which cheap fixes make the biggest difference?
The cheapest draught-proofing jobs for a UK home, where to find the gaps, and a worked saving at today's gas price, plus the ventilation rules to stay safe.
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Which gadgets cost the most on standby, and is it worth switching them off at the wall?
Standby costs about £2.24 a year for every watt left running at today's UK price. Here's the sum, how to measure your gadgets, and which ones to bother with.
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Does turning your thermostat down by 1°C really save money?
Yes, it saves money, but how much depends on how much heating you use. Here's a worked example at today's UK gas price, plus the NHS minimum to stay safe.
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Heated airer vs tumble dryer: which is cheaper to run?
A heated airer costs a fraction of a tumble dryer per load, but it's slower and puts the damp into your room. Here's what each costs at today's UK prices, plus heat pump dryers and dehumidifiers.
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What's the cheapest time to use electricity in the UK?
On a standard tariff the price is the same all day. On time-of-use tariffs like Octopus Go, Agile, EDF GoElectric and Economy 7 it isn't. Here are the cheap hours for each, and what to move into them.