Are you spending too much on your electricity bill? With the average household spending £1,249 a year on gas and electricity, energy costs form a large part of our annual outgoings.

The amount of electronic appliances we are using everyday is increasing. According to a 2017 report by Energy Consumption in the UK, in 1990 the average household of four people used just four appliances. Today, the average household uses 13.

However, electricity usage in the UK is actually decreasing as our appliances become more efficient. And there are ways we can cut our electricity usage even more, to benefit both the environment and your pockets. By following a few steps, you can save hundreds of pounds a year on your energy bill.

1. Turn off appliances

The most obvious way of cutting your electricity bill is to stop using so much electricity. A lot of the power we use in our homes is wasted, by leaving appliances on standby or not turning off the lights. If you get into the habit of turning off all your devices at the plug when not using them, you can save on average £30 a year. These savings could rise to £80 a year if your household uses more gadgets than the average home. Devices such as televisions and laptops still use lots of energy when on standby so remember to always turn them off. And of course don’t forget the lights!

• Use your appliances more efficiently

You can also save money by being more efficient with how you use your appliances. For example, when using your washing machine or dishwasher, always try and fill them up as much as you can. One full load will use much less electricity than two half loads. Also, washing dishes by hand is more energy efficient than constantly filling and using your dishwasher.

When it comes to washing your clothes, you should use the lowest temperature possible. You can save up to £52 a year if you wash your clothes at 30 instead of 40 degrees. And instead of using a tumble dryer, you can save a lot of electricity by using a washing line or rack.

• Use more efficient appliances

Throwing out old electrical appliances and replacing them with more energy-efficient alternatives could save you a lot of money on your bills in the long run. By using an electric oven with an A+ efficiency rating instead of a B-rated model you will use as much as 40% less energy.

You can also save money by using energy saving light bulbs. They don’t cost a lot more than normal light bulbs, but last up to 10 times longer and can save you up to £55 in electricity costs during it’s lifetime.

You should also consider changing your fridge. You can save up to £20 a year in energy bills by using an A+++ fridge freezer over an A+ model. Also, a packed fridge will use less energy than a half empty one, as the contents act as insulation so the fridge has to use less electricity to stay cool. Always try to fill your fridge if you can.

• Monitor how much energy you are using

You should consider installing a smart meter. This will track how much energy you are using and send the data to your supplier who will set your bill accordingly. This way you will be billed for your electricity more accurately. You will also get real time information on how much electricity you are using, allowing you to investigate and work out which appliances in your home are using the most power.

• Switch energy supplier

Last but not least, one of the most cost efficient and easiest ways of saving money on your electricity bill is to change supplier. According to Ofgem, the average household can save up to £300 a year by switching their gas and electricity supplier.

Prices and plans are always changing, so it’s always worth looking around for a better deal rather than being content with what you have. By shopping around and comparing the market, you can find the cheapest energy deals that suits you, and potentially save hundreds.