British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON, Octopus customers handed £147 each without needing to turn heating off

British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON Next and Octopus customers can take advantage of the handy hack, trick and tip as we head deeper into autumn and eventually winter.

An energy saving tip could save £147 a year - without needing to turn off your heating. British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON Next and Octopus customers can take advantage of the handy hack, trick and tip as we head deeper into autumn and eventually winter.

Renewable energy surveyor, Sean Slawson, of Geo Green Power, warned vampire appliances need to be switched off to ensure you're maximising your money. Sean said: “Devices in standby mode still consume energy, and reducing this can lead to surprising savings. Televisions, computers, and gaming consoles are major contributors to so-called 'vampire' energy consumption."

He showcased research revealing an average of £147 per household is lost to energy guzzlers. He explained: “Tumble dryers are the most expensive to run. Try to avoid their use completely and use sunny days to dry clothes outside whenever possible.

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"If you do need to use the tumble dryer, place a dry towel in with dryer loads to reduce energy use by absorbing excess water and limiting the need for multiple runs.” Previously, Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance expert at Domestic & General, listed the "worst appliances" that households should "never leave on standby".

Ian said: "Some think that simply turning them off is sufficient, but there are many electrical products that continue to use power when left plugged in – these are often called ‘vampire devices’." He also emphasised the "most common vampire devices" include washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, TVs and microwaves. Computer monitors, printers and coffee machines also suck a lot of energy too.

Ian explained: "Appliances that need to heat water use a lot of energy – which is why dishwashers, washing machines and kettles score so highly on energy consumption. They use more energy than others on standby as they need to be ready to heat water instantly, on demand."