Energy tracking app from Uswitch helps households support national power-saving drive

• Uswitch.com provides tips and advice on how to reduce your energy this winter and save money on bills.

• National effort to drive energy efficiency is boosted with Utrack by Uswitch, a free mobile app that helps people track their home energy use by connecting to their smart meter 

• App enables users to spot their most power-hungry devices and identify spikes in their energy use that are costing them money

• One in five households (20%) – over five million homes – will only cope with rising bills this winter by cutting their energy use[1]

• Two in five (43%) say they will turn down their thermostat this winter[2], and a third (35%) of homes will cut their use of the oven[3]

With news of the Government's plans to launch a public energy efficiency information campaign, comparison service Uswitch.com launches Utrack by Uswitch, a free mobile app that connects to a smart meter and allows users to track their energy use and save money.

The app helps consumers understand their household energy consumption, monitor when they are using the most power and find ways to cut costs around the home. 

 A fifth of households (20%) say they will only be able to cope with rising bills this winter by cutting back their energy use[1]. Nearly half (46%) of bill-payers plan to turn the thermostat down[2], and a third (35%) say they will reduce the number of times they use their oven to cut their energy use[3].

Feedback from app users has shown tracking energy usage at home has helped to change habits that save money. One household reported that they had cut their energy costs by £30 a month after using the app to discover how much a dehumidifier running 24 hours a day was costing them. They now only use it when necessary[4].

Another user said they noticed unexpected spikes in their gas use at unusual hours, increasing their bills from 10p to £1 a day. After investigating, they found a fault with their boiler that meant it was turning on at random times. Without Utrack, they may not have noticed the problem until they received an unexpectedly high energy bill[4].

Further app feedback showed a parent who noticed an abnormal spike in their energy use through using the app. On investigating the issue, they realised their young child had switched on a heated towel rail in their bathroom, and were able to turn it off before costs escalated[4].

A fifth of households (20%) say they will only be able to cope with rising bills this winter by cutting back their energy use[1]. Nearly half (46%) of bill-payers plan to turn the thermostat down[2], and a third (35%) say they will reduce the number of times they use their oven to cut their energy use[3].

With Utrack, users can: 

• Track energy across the day and monitor changes in energy spend

• Get dynamic energy insights, such as peak usage times

• Calculate potential savings with handy household tips

• Download for free here.

For those already working on reducing their energy consumption, here are a few tips and small changes that might help save money. 

• Turning your thermostat down by a single degree can save you as much as £60 a year.

• Reducing the flow rate on combination boilers can also knock money off heating bills. These types of boilers work best when the water going to radiators is heated at 60°C or below, however, most boilers are set to a much higher flow rate

• Reducing how often you run your dishwasher by one use a week, you could save £14 a year.

• When washing your clothes, try to use a cold water or 30°C cycle where possible. You only need warmer temperatures for particularly dirty clothes, and you can save around £28 per year by limiting the hot water you use.

• Using energy-guzzling appliances like tumble dryers less frequently. An average tumble dryer uses 3kWh per cycle – costing almost £1.03 a load. 

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “With the days growing colder and darker, Brits are already feeling the pressures of rising energy bills combined with the cost of living.

“At a time when people can’t save by switching their energy supplier, our free app Utrack is already helping households work out which devices and appliances are using a lot of energy. Early user feedback suggests this is already encouraging people to change their behaviour and save money.

“By tracking their daily usage, app users are able to notice unusual spikes in their energy use and quickly take action before costs escalate and add to their bills. 

“Making small changes to your energy use can all add up to have a significant impact. Turning off electrical items at the plug sockets, making sure lights are turned off when rooms aren’t being used and using more energy efficient appliances can all help to shave pounds off your bills.” 

Find out how to save on your household energy bills here.

Notes

1. Research conducted online by Opinium, 13th to 15th September 2022, among 2,000 UK adults, weighted to be nationally representative. Respondents were asked ‘Is the government support - energy price guarantee, fixed tariff assistance and energy bill support - going to be enough for your household to cope with the increase in energy bills this winter?’ 20% said yes - I will be able to pay them if I reduce my energy usage. 

2. Respondents were asked ‘Which, if any, of the following have you done / will you do to prepare for the winter?’ See table below for responses.

3. Respondents were asked ‘Which of the following will you change due to higher energy prices this winter?’ 37% said ‘I will only heat some rooms in my home’, 37% said ‘I will keep the lights off in my home’, 35% said ‘I will reduce use of my oven’,  32% said ‘I will put back the date I would normally turn my heating on’, 13% said ‘I will avoid eating hot food’, 12% said ‘I will get through winter without turning on my heating’ 

4. Testimonials submitted by Utrack app users directly to Uswitch.com

About Utrack by Uswitch

Utrack by Uswitch is a new service to help you manage your home energy costs.

• Track your energy across the day and monitor changes in your energy spend

• Get dynamic energy insights, such as peak usage times

• Calculate potential savings with handy household tips

The Uswitch app has been given a refresh. This new-look service now gives you more features focused on controlling your home energy, which could help you reduce the cost of your household bills. This is Utrack by Uswitch.

We know saving money is important to you, especially as living costs continue to rise. That’s why we want to do more than just help you switch.

Here’s what you can do on Utrack, the new service from Uswitch:

• Connect your smart meter to get automated updates and personalised dynamic insights on your home energy usage

• See how much you could save by changing your energy habits

• Check your progress over time and see how your usage compares to others

• Learn how energy efficient your home is

You can still use the Uswitch app to access switching for your broadband and mobile phone.