Gas and electricity contracts on the rise
Since the end of July, the gas market has started to rise again. Although the figures are not extraordinarily high, we are still talking about an annual increase of around €200 for a household, compared to spring prices. In September, prices did not decrease and we have even observed a new increase since the end of last week. So what can we do immediately to protect ourselves as much as possible? The good news is that fixed contracts still exist. If you signed one in the spring or even during the summer, you have peace of mind for a year. If it expires during the winter months, it would be good to anticipate its end by signing a new fixed contract now. It may be a little more expensive at first, but will avoid a sharp increase in November or December.
Wood and pellets, a good investment, but…
Those who heat themselves with firewood will have noticed: the price of stere has increased this year compared to previous years. An increase in prices which was not expected, moreover. It must be said that after years already marked by price increases, we did not expect a new increase. “The price of logs tends to remain at a higher level than in 2018 (129 €/stere, or 7.15 c€/kWh), but still remains lower than that of fossil fuels. indicates the specialized company Valbiom
Good news on the oil market
Fuel and heating oil will remain cheap in the months to come: “We are entering an era where oil is not expensive”
We go from an increase to a decrease. We had become accustomed to having to endure high prices for heating oil and fuels in recent years, but the situation has returned to a fairly attractive level for everyone. For your home, now is the right time to fill your oil tank, with prices at their lowest in three years.
Maintaining your installation is essential…
But you still need to have an installation that operates at full power to benefit from good performance. Whether it is gas or oil, a boiler needs to be maintained every year. It’s a question of security, but also financial. “As a general rule, you can count on that good maintenance and adjustment of your boiler, especially if it runs on oil, will bring you a gain of 5 to 10% in efficiency.“, Testachats tells us.
And this also applies to photovoltaic panels!
We must also think about our roof, even in winter, if we have solar panels. Even during the coldest and cloudiest months, they can produce energy. “Cleaning your solar panels regularly is not just a question of aesthetics. In fact, when dirt accumulates significantly on them, they can lose performance. Even if the losses recorded are not dramatic (around 2% to 7%), it would be a real shame to leave solar panels without cleaning them for an extended period of time.“, analyzes Engie for its part.
Energy suppliers have updated their prices, with a few surprises: here are some tips for choosing the right contract
What work should be carried out immediately?
This obviously depends on the budget, and the availability of a contractor. In theory, it is the big jobs that pay off the most in the long term. If we often think about frames, it is the insulation of the roof that is the most important. We are also thinking about changing the central heating system, with heat pump systems which are becoming more and more efficient, in particular.
Without work, opt for new devices
If your fridge, dishwasher or washing machine is already a few years old, changing to a new appliance with the best possible energy rating can save several tens of euros per year. For the biggest ones, we’re even talking about hundreds of euros!
Lowering the thermostat by one or two degrees: the (very) good plan
It’s the simplest thing to do and it costs nothing: lower the temperature at home. “We heat to 19 or 20°C when we are there. But we lower the temperature at night and when we are away: we only heat it to 15 or 16°C. This saves 15 to 20% on heating, i.e. a saving of €540 per year.“, promises the specialized site Ecoconso.be.
