Cheap Watts blog https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/ Practical ways to cut your electricity bill in the UK. en-gb Autumn Budget 2026: what it means for your energy bills https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/autumn-budget-2026-energy-bills-what-to-expect/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/autumn-budget-2026-energy-bills-what-to-expect/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. How do I read my smart meter and download my half-hourly usage? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/read-smart-meter-download-half-hourly-usage/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/read-smart-meter-download-half-hourly-usage/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. Solar panels in the UK: how much do they generate, and should you use or sell the power? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/solar-panels-uk-how-much-generate-use-or-sell/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/solar-panels-uk-how-much-generate-use-or-sell/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. Bleeding radiators, reflector panels and TRVs: what actually helps? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/bleeding-radiators-reflector-panels-trvs-what-helps/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/bleeding-radiators-reflector-panels-trvs-what-helps/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. How much does an electric blanket cost to run in the UK? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/electric-blanket-running-cost-uk/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/electric-blanket-running-cost-uk/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. Air fryer vs oven vs microwave: which is cheapest per meal? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/air-fryer-vs-oven-vs-microwave-cheapest-per-meal/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/air-fryer-vs-oven-vs-microwave-cheapest-per-meal/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. Priority Services Register: who can join and what it gives you https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/priority-services-register-who-can-join/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/priority-services-register-who-can-join/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. Does lowering your boiler flow temperature to 60°C really cut your gas bill? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/boiler-flow-temperature-60-degrees-cut-gas-bill/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/boiler-flow-temperature-60-degrees-cut-gas-bill/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. Octopus Agile explained: who it suits, and who it doesn't https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/octopus-agile-explained-who-it-suits/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/octopus-agile-explained-who-it-suits/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. Draught-proofing on a budget: which cheap fixes make the biggest difference? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/draught-proofing-on-a-budget-uk/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/draught-proofing-on-a-budget-uk/ Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. Which gadgets cost the most on standby, and is it worth switching them off at the wall? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/standby-power-cost-uk-switch-off-at-the-wall/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/standby-power-cost-uk-switch-off-at-the-wall/ Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. Does turning your thermostat down by 1°C really save money? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/turn-thermostat-down-1-degree-save-money/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/turn-thermostat-down-1-degree-save-money/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. Heated airer vs tumble dryer: which is cheaper to run? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/heated-airer-vs-tumble-dryer-running-cost/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/heated-airer-vs-tumble-dryer-running-cost/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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. What's the cheapest time to use electricity in the UK? https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/cheapest-time-to-use-electricity-uk/ https://cheapwatts.co.uk/blog/cheapest-time-to-use-electricity-uk/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT 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.