With the majority of Brits working from home due to Cornonavirus, household energy bills could increase by around £52 million a week, research from Uswitch suggests.

Approximately 16.8 million people are estimated to be staying home due to resent measures outlined by government to combat the spread of COVID-19. This means households that are mostly empty between school and working hours, say 9am to 5pm, will be consuming much more energy than usual.

Having the lights and heating on, boiling the kettle, using the computer or television, and charging electronic devices will all increase energy bills significantly during these unprecedented times.

Uswitch estimates households with occupants working from home will use 25% more electricity and 17% more gas a day, a potential increase of £16 per month and £195 per year for those on Standard Variable Tariffs (SVTs).

Cordelia Samson, energy expert at Uswitch, said:

“This is a hugely unsettling time for everyone, with many people staying home who don’t normally and some having to juggle looking after children at the same time.

 

Working from home and entertaining children during the day means having the heating on when it wouldn’t usually be, and using extra gas and electricity for cooking, making cups of tea, television and computers.

 

There are plenty of ways you can reduce the amount of energy use around your home, however, and if you’re concerned about the amount you’re paying, you should compare energy deals to see if there is a cheaper plan you can move to.”

There are many ways you can make your energy go further and save money. See Uswitch’s 40 free energy saving tips for more information.