1 week Ago By [email protected] (David Bentley)
People can slash hundreds of pounds off their energy bills if they meet specific criteria for free support. Octopus says its research shows a typical home could save £300 by using an electric blanket to keep warm rather than always heating the whole house. Octopus is giving away 10,000 free heated throws this winter and says that even if people don't qualify for one, it's worth buying one as they can produce significant savings.
This will become even more important when the energy price cap goes up again from January 1. The energy provider said: "One of our boffins realised that some customers were paying to heat their entire homes, even if they lived alone. He did some calculations and found out that where heating a whole home costs around £4 a day, an energy-efficient electric blanket can heat a person for just 2-4p an hour.
This means an electric blanket is a vastly more cost-effective way to stay warm." READ MORE: DWP 'winter allowance' scam warning to millions of benefit and pension claimants New £200 payment for cost of living starts in weeks for thousands of households Octopus says its electric blankets scheme is aimed at customers who are most in need. This could include: Elderly people Anyone with mobility issues who spends a lot of time in one spot People with specific medical issues that mean they feel the cold more or are more susceptible to illness Customers who qualify through its Octo Assist scheme, a £30 million customer help fund including various support options If you aren't with Octopus, or are one of its customers but don't qualify for a free blanket, the supplier says you can easily buy your own electric blanket for around £40-£60 and still get the same energy savings.
It said: "We've been really trying to target people who need a blanket most, so we haven't offered one to every customer, and we've tried to keep it to one per home so that we can support as many people as possible. "We ran some analysis on customers who got an electric blanket and found that they saved up to 10-20 per cent on their bills on average in the winter months after getting their blanket. Over a year, that’s a massive £300 saving.
"If you can afford it, please consider buying one yourself. We know everyone's worried about bills right now, but some people are struggling much more than others. We only have 10,000 blankets to give away, and need to prioritise customers who'll benefit most.
"These blankets start at around £40 and can save you £300 or more, so they're really worth the investment. If you can consider buying one yourself, please do – there might be someone else out there who truly can't afford to buy one." Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp .
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