When do we use the most power?
Every household is different but in general, peak time for electricity use is between 4pm and 8pm during weekdays. At this time, people get home from school or work and use appliances to cook their dinner, turn on the TV and put the heating on during colder weather.

Energy usage may also be higher from 7am to 9am, when people are making breakfast, taking a shower and getting ready for the day.

Meet the culprits 
Normally electric showers and kettles take the blame as big energy culprits, but most of a typical energy bill comes from the utility room, as washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers need a lot of power to heat water and air.

Fridges and freezers come in second place, as they need to maintain a constant temperature and must be on all the time.

Consumer electronics such as TVs, laptops and game consoles may use little energy on their own but, together, take third place in your bill. They are followed closely in forth place by the amount spent on lighting a home – especially with Christmas around the corner!

The fifth-largest energy culprits in your home live in a very busy room at electricity peak times: the kitchen. They include ovens, microwaves, air fryers and kettles, among other cooking appliances and novelties that whirl and sizzle into action while you’re having a Masterchef moment.

Reduce your energy bill, not your quality of life

Here are some simple tips to save electricity and money:

Turn off the light! - This feels like the oldest trick in the book, but it is still a powerful one. If you are not in the room, there is no need for light. In NI, this could save you £30 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Another great idea is replacing halogen bulbs with LEDs, which would save you £75 a year.

Favour A-rated appliances - When it comes to shopping for a new fridge, for example, people normally go for special features, such as trendy colours or in-built water and ice dispensers. However, they should be checking the A-G rating – which, in its own defence, also has pretty colours – before making a purchase. G-rated appliances could cost double as much to run per year as A-rated ones.

Time it right - As we said before, dinner time = peak energy usage time, so how about not turning every device on at the same time when getting home from work? Some appliances also have scheduling features, so that you can put a wash on during the night, when energy rates are lower, for example.

Make the most of your appliances - Simple measures such as washing clothes at a lower temperature and avoiding washing or drying half loads can make a huge difference. And why heat up a whole kettle of water if you only need a single cup of that life-saving coffee?

Choose your energy supplier wisely - At Share Energy, we understand the importance of reducing monthly bills while ensuring you have the energy needed to power vital appliances and keep your family warm. We currently offer the lowest standard rate in Northern Ireland and we’ll share 50% of our profits with our customers. So start saving today at share-energy.com