How to cut energy bills when cooking, according to Iceland and Utilita

The boss of Chandlers Ford-based Utilita has said he “can’t even begin to get across” how difficult the expected hike in energy prices will be for millions of people.

Utilita and Iceland supermarkets are to launch a collaboration called Shop Smart, Cook Savvy, which will show the high cost of cooking with an electric oven compared with alternatives.

READ MORE: 'My money won't last': Energy company's desperate calls in cost of living crisis

Research for the two companies found an electric cooker costs 87p a day to run, based on average usage time, compared with 14p for an air fryer or 8p for a microwave.

A package of measures including using more energy-efficient appliances, “batch cooking” and using the right size pan with a lid could save a household £604 a year, the research found.

Figures from Utilita and Iceland showing the cost of using each appliance for the average daily amount of time, and the amount of carbon generated by each appliance per year

Bill Bullen, founder and chief executive of Utilita, said: “For at least 40 per cent of people, the default option for cooking an evening meal is the oven.”

He said more than half of people did not know which of their cooking appliances cost more to run.

“Energy price rises are the problem and nobody suggests that this is going to solve the problem but it’s a significant step,” he said.

“If you are taking action rather than being the victim, doing what you can to reduce your usage costs, then whatever the government does as well – and they will do something – you’re going to be even better off.”

The campaign will include an overhaul of Iceland’s own product packaging, so that cooking instructions include more energy-efficient appliances and methods.

There will be a consumer awareness tour organised by Utilita outside Iceland stores, as well as free workshops on 15 ways to cut bills.

Both companies will sell an air fryer from Tower Housewares at the discounted price of £35. The businesses say it will pay for itself in around 47 days of avoiding the oven.

The campaign was announced on the same day a senior executive at energy giant EDF warned that half of UK households were facing fuel poverty this winter – and that the situation could be “catastrophic” without government support.

Mr Bullen said: “If they go ahead with the price rise that’s currently scheduled to be announced on Friday, in my opinion, that’s the wrong strategy. People are already suffering.”

Figures from Iceland and Utlita on how much households could save by changing cooking behaviour

He pointed out that prices had already risen 15 per cent last winter and 54 per cent in April this year.

“People are going to start feeling the effect of that as we’re coming out of the summer. I can’t begin to get across how difficult we think this is going to be,” he said.

READ MORE: Shopkeeper's despair as monthly electricity bills go from £700 to £2,500

He said a third of the state pension would be going on energy bills and that for lower income households, inflation was already between 30-50 per cent.

“Make no mistake, putting average costs up to £3,500 when they’re normally £1,000, taking £2,500 out of any household budget is significant,” he said.

He said the candidates to be the next prime minister had not been focused on the issue.

“We need a government focused on the issue. It’s a really big issue. Personally, I feel that neither of the two candidates have really focused on the issue. They’re consumed with the politics of becoming leader andd they haven’t actually focused on the biggest issue of the day, which is the level of hardship that this is going to mean for households,” he added.

The Daily Echo has also been running a campaign called Your Money Matters to raise awareness of the impact of the cost of living crisis in Southampton and offer practical help to readers through giveaways, competitions and deals.

Last month, the Echo also launched a Boost the Bank campaign encouraging those who can to donate to Southampton City Mission.

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