UK households with aircon face £381.21 charges from July | Personal Finance | Finance

If the last few days have shown anything, it’s that the rapid impact of climate change is set to make every summer all the more intense for the UK, with record-breaking temperatures becoming the norm. And as 34C days in May become more frequent, some are beginning to seriously consider installing aircon in their homes – or have just bought a unit.

But the bad news is that traditional big box air conditioning is quite expensive to run and thanks to the increasing Ofgem price cap in July, the cost to run it will increase yet further. The energy regulator has today confirmed that it will increase the price cap for gas and electricity by 13% from July 1, adding £221 to annual energy bills for a typical use household.

According to Domestic Heating, how much power your aircon consumes will depend on the type of unit.

A typical portable AC uses 1.2kW, while a split system uses 2kW. These are among the highest energy-consuming devices, in line with ovens, but of course, air conditioners tend to be left on for hours at a time.

According to manufacturers of aircon, Ice LTD, A/C units should be run for 6-8 hours per day.

It says: “Central air conditioning systems are designed to cool an entire building and will usually be controlled by a thermostat. In the UK, a moderately used central AC system may run for 6-8 hours per day during the warmer months. This can vary due to a number of factors, such as the temperature setting, the property’s insulation, and seasonal factors such as warm weather.

“With summertime temperatures rising and extreme heat now being an occasional feature of our weather, central AC systems may need to run for longer periods for user comfort. If your system isn’t cooling as you might expect, it can indicate issues such as poor insulation or dirty filters.”

Running an aircon unit for eight hours per day at 1.2KW will, from July 1, cost £2.51 per day. That’s £76.24 per month or a whopping £914.89 per year. On the other hand, you are likely to only use the system for a few months per year, so using for eight hours a day for three months would add a lower £228.72 per year to your bills.

For a split system, the number is higher. At 2kW, it would cost £4.18 per day for an eight-hour use, or £1,524.82 per year. But taken across just three months of summer, it would equate to £381.21, still a significant sum.

According to British Gas, there are a few tricks you can use to reduce the cost of running aircon.

It says: “A few simple habits can also make a noticeable difference:

These small changes can help keep energy use — and costs — significantly lower over time.”