The energy price cap has increased – here’s how the Energy Saver App can help (BBC Radio Oxford 25th February 2025)
After news that energy prices are set to rise by 6.4% from April 1st, Oxfordshire County Council’s Dale Hoyland was interviewed on BBC Radio Oxford to explain how the free Energy Saver App can help.
Click the video below to hear an audio recording:
Here’s a transcript of the discussion:
Sophie Law: We have news which has just broken in the last few minutes of the energy price cap, which is set to go up. Dan, what’s the latest?
Dan Freeman: Yes, and higher than had been predicted. Energy prices are set to rise by 6.4% from April 1st under regulator Ofgem’s new cap. That’s the third consecutive increase in the quarterly cap. It means that a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will see their annual bill go up by £111 a year, which equates to £925 a month, and will take your total bill on average to £1849 a year.
Sophie Law: Let’s find out what this means for you and what you can do in to mitigate this cost. Energy expert Dale Hoyland is the team leader at Oxford County Council’s Climate Action Service. Morning Dale.
Dale Hoyland: Good morning Sophie.
Sophie Law: This is going to be bad news, isn’t it, for lots of people listening this morning who are struggling already to make ends meet.
Dale Hoyland: Yes, it is indeed. But I think Dan’s hit the nail on the head. It doesn’t have to be a rise. 6.4% is more than savable, hopefully, with a bit of behavioral change and some of the interventions that we’ve got in the county. So you can actually be the bearer of good news. When I came into the studios last month, we spoke about the launch of the Energy Saver app, which will give people behavioural change tips. Now, through the app, we’ve launched energy tariff switching because there is competition back in the energy market. As you’ve just mentioned, you can fix your tariff so that you’re not then exposed to these energy price cap increases. We’ve also launched an offer for solar solar PV with battery storage, without the upfront cost. With that you should be able to save at least £1000 pounds a the year. So more than the £111 increase per annum that the increase gives you. So there are lots of ways to save money.
Sophie Law: Yes, so could you remind people – when you say behavioural changes, what do you mean? What are the kinds of simple things people can do to try and get the costs down?
Dale Hoyland: Lots of things. Your listeners will already be doing many of these. But it’s surprising, when you kind of go back through the various tips, even for those of us that are working in the industry, there’s lots of things that you’ll find that you can still do. Things like checking all your light bulbs to make sure they’re LEDs, turning off lights when you leave rooms, tucking curtains behind the radiators at night to keep the heat in, and looking at the flow temperature of your boiler. That one sounds more complicated than it is. You’ve probably got a knob on the front of your boiler or a digital plus and minus button where you can lower the temperature that the boiler is giving out so that you’re not overheating the property. It’s also much smoother heating, which is one of the benefits that air source heat pumps offer. But if you’ve still got a gas or an oil boiler then looking at the flow temperature is a really good way to save money. Plus lots of other things. The Energy Saving Trust is a really good source of advice, or the Energy Saver App. Just go to energysaverapp.com and download that. It’s free to all Oxfordshire residents with an electricity smart meter.
