By James Rodger
British Gas, EDF, EON, Ovo and Octopus customers have been issued a 拢400 tumble dryer warning they can’t afford to ignore. One expert has revealed a surprisingly easy way to make big savings, and it all comes down to when you use your appliances. Gordon Wallis, an energy specialist at Your NRG, explains that simply shifting your energy usage to off-peak hours can significantly reduce your electricity bill, especially if you rely on power-hungry appliances like tumble dryers. 鈥淭umble dryers are one of the most expensive household appliances to run,鈥 says Wallis. 鈥淏ut if you鈥檙e on an Economy 7 or similar time-of-use tariff, running your dryer overnight can cut your costs by up to 50%, potentially saving you hundreds over the course of a year.鈥 READ MORE Warning for millions going on holiday to Spain after UK tourist left ‘petrified’ According to figures from Currys, the average cost of a single tumble dryer cycle is 拢1.54. For someone running five cycles per week, that adds up to around 拢400 per year, a figure many households simply “can鈥檛 ignore” during the cost-of-living crisis,” he said. 鈥淒rying clothes indoors becomes a necessity in winter, especially for those without outdoor space or proper ventilation,鈥 Wallis explains. 鈥淏ut if you鈥檙e not using a heated airer or drying rack, the tumble dryer quickly becomes one of the biggest contributors to your energy bill.鈥 Not all electricity is priced the same throughout the day. If you鈥檙e on a standard flat-rate tariff, you pay the same unit price regardless of when you use electricity. But Economy 7 and other time-of-use tariffs offer significantly cheaper rates during the night, usually between midnight and 8am, because demand on the National Grid is much lower during these hours. 鈥淭he grid experiences less pressure overnight, so suppliers can offer cheaper energy,鈥 says Wallis. 鈥淭aking advantage of that pricing structure just makes sense, especially if you鈥檙e running large appliances like washing machines, dishwashers or tumble dryers.鈥