Brits struggle to guess how much energy households use each day – and it’s costing them

The weather forecast and someone’s age are the hardest things to guess, according to Brits. A poll of 2,000 adults also found many people get stumped when trying to “guesstimate” how much paint they will need when re-decorating (25%) and the amount of energy their household uses each day (21%).

In fact, the survey revealed just 13% correctly guessed that it costs 1-2p to boil an electric kettle for a cup of tea. And only 14% knew a 10-minute shower uses between 100-150 litres of water.

But this guesswork can come at a cost – with Brits admitting to wasting food (27%), and receiving a higher bill than expected (21%) after leaving things to chance.

Three in five (60%) added that being able to estimate accurately would help them plan more effectively, avoid waste (56%) and reduce stress (52%). Half (50%) think that having more accurate information would help them to predict their costs, bills and spending.

The research, commissioned by Smart Energy GB, found energy bills would be the most useful thing to have accurate information about (38%), highlighting the limits of guesswork when it comes to household costs.

Smart Energy GB teamed up with TV and theatre star Denise Van Outen to highlight how accurate information can help households stay in control of their costs.

“Loads of us rely on guesswork for things like cooking or housework but there are areas in life where being accurate is really important.” Denise said.

“For me, having a smart meter takes away that uncertainty when it comes to energy. I can see what I’m using day-to-day on my in-home display, which makes it much easier to stay in control and avoid any surprises.

“It’s one less thing to think about, and that peace of mind makes a real difference in a busy household.”

Three in 10 (29%) admit finding it tricky to estimate how much energy their household appliances use, while 27% consider it hard to work out daily heating costs.

Yet 67% think it’s helpful to be able to see their energy use and costs in real time, and almost half (45%) of those who have a smart meter check the in-home display several times a week.

Six in 10 agree that having access to information about their energy use can help manage household costs better, according to the stats by OnePoll.

Victoria Bacon, director at Smart Energy GB, said: “While we might be happy to guesstimate pasta portions and have some leftover for later, there are plenty of areas where we’d prefer to have accurate information, including our energy use.

“Having a smart meter means you will receive accurate bills that aren’t based on estimates, and the in-home display gives you up-to-date information about your energy use, which means no more guesswork.

“That visibility makes it easier to plan ahead, budget more confidently and stay in control of your spending.”