Commercial Break: Don't Let Your Electricity Bills Leave You Frazzled.

If your wallet is feeling fried from all the money you have had to pay for electricity lately, join the nearly 8.5 million Britons in a similar position. But there’s a way to stop the haemorrhaging from your bank account before you fall into fuel poverty. To beat the current electricity prices, just follow these simple tips on lowering your bill.Search for Energy Star appliances. If your refrigerator, washing machine, or clothes dryer is more than five years old, there are is a good chance that a newer model would use far less energy. Manufacturers are continually improving the way these kinds of products work by designing them to do more work with less energy. A great example of a worthy upgrade would be a front-loading washing machine, which requires little water and even less power to get your clothes clean.Maintain the appliances that you have. Even if you can’t afford to go buy more energy-efficient household appliances, you can still save money by making sure that the ones that you have run the way they are meant to. At least once a year, have your heater inspected for minor problems that can turn into big repair expenses if not treated immediately. Also make sure to install new filters regularly and keep the unit insulated to prevent heat loss. Another household appliance that could benefit from regular maintenance is your refrigerator; cleaning the coils can cut the energy your refrigerator uses by up to seven per cent.Research other energy companies. If you are paying exorbitant amounts for your electricity, it may not be entirely your fault. You can reduce the amount of power that you use at home, but you should also make sure that you’re getting the best tariff for your power service. Researching other companies that you could switch to is easy to do online; all it takes is an Internet connection and a little financial savvy.Overhaul your lighting. The electricity that you use to light your house can make up to ten per cent of your electricity expenses from month to month, so taking simple steps to lower the amount of energy you use on lighting can make a big difference in your bill. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use far less energy than incandescent bulbs, so making the switch can save you money. And also don’t forget the age-old wisdom of turning off the lights whenever you leave a room to see your bill drop even more. Avoid power loads from appliances on standby. Did you know that even when you turn off home appliances such as your television, DVR, and desktop computer, they still take up to 70 per cent of the amount of power that they use when they are on? This is because most household electronics are meant to start up quickly, but the drain on your electricity bill may not be worth the convenience. Plug your electronics into power strips instead to make it easier to break the circuit when they are not in use.Now that you have the information that you need to keep your bills under control, enjoy having more money in your pocket and less stress about your electricity.This post is from uSwitch and benefits us both because I was paid to include it and the information is, hopefully, helpful.