Standard heating pattern can be entered for each day to slash energy bills

A new poll has revealed consumers trust modern smart meters offered by mobile phone and tech firms far more than those from energy firms. According to those surveyed, power and utility companies are seen as a having an “impersonal and transactional” relationship with their customers. Many questioned the motives of energy firms’ involvement in the rollouts and failed to understand why power companies would want to provide them with tools to reduce their energy bills.

Money saving heating control PC software shows how much oil is left in the tank

A local scheme offering discounted heating oil has become so successful it is being expanded nationwide. The idea generated with Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC) as a means to raise extra income.

Heating system makes big savings by automatically compensating for very warm or cold days

The government has been warned that there will be a 30 per cent rise in consumer energy bills by 2020 as a direct result of the coalition’s policies. The projected figure is blamed on policies like carbon pricing which are designed to promote the use of renewables.

Microprocessor makes central heating more efficient to save money when Npower raises prices

Energy giant Npower blamed the “volatile global wholesale market” for making a big hike in its prices. Npower will raise gas prices by 15.7 per cent and electricity prices by 7.2% from the first day of October, it said. The firm said customers with a dual fuel tariff would see prices rise by 12.2% from October.

Savings from heat loss algorithm boiler control can cut energy bills by eight per cent or upwards

Energy regulator Ofgem has stepped up its investigation into the ‘big six’ suppliers. Five months ago Ofgem said it had evidence the leading energy companies had pushed up prices in response to rising costs more quickly than they reduced them when costs fell.

Heating control software displays savings and predicts how much oil is left in the tank

Unleaded petrol is close to its record price at the pumps, even though there has been a sustained fall in the cost of oil in the medium term. Since April, the cost of Brent crude has dropped by 18 per cent while this week unleaded petrol cost an average of 136.58 pence a litre across Britain’s forecourts. The petrol industry responded that prices are only partially dependent on the cost of crude oil.

Fuel savings for buildings with variable occupancy detectors can reach 20 per cent

The Government has announced big changes in the way Britain organises its electricity production partly in a bid to cut high fuel bills. It will offer generating companies long-term contracts at fixed prices to produce low-carbon power – in other words, from renewable sources and nuclear installations.

Money saving boiler control system also manages lighting usage in a building

A council says it is saving more than £3,000 a month by turning off some street lights after midnight. Carmarthenshire council ensures that 3,000 of the lights within its jurisdiction are dimmed in the early hours of the morning.

How British Gas customers can enjoy savings on fuel bills to make up for recent rises

In a move which has been widely predicted but is still unwelcome nevertheless, British Gas is putting up gas prices by 18 per cent and electricity prices by 16% from August 18, 2011. The utility last raised its rates back in December 2010 by 6.9% for gas and 6.7% for electricity. This means British Gas customers will have seen their bills increase by one-quarter in the last year alone. The firm has blamed the rises on the increasing wholesale cost of gas.