BILLS have spiked for millions of households this week after the amount suppliers could charge customers per unit of energy rose.

But there are ways to limit how much your household appliances add to your outgoings.

Usually the cost of gas and electric is the same, so putting a washing machine or tumble dryer on in the day or at night will cost you the same.

But there are in fact special tariffs where you can pay less for your energy depending on the time of day.

They are called Economy 7 or 10 tariffs and charge you for your electricity usage based on off-peak and on-peak rates.

The off-peak rate usually applies for seven or 10 hours of the night, and the on-peak rate for the other 14 or 17 hours.

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We previously revealed how these time-of-use tariffs can slash your bills by as much as £120 a year.

On top of these tariffs, there's now the "demand flexibility service" that's being run from November to March next year.

Under the scheme, households will be paid around £10 a day to use their appliances at specific times to prevent blackouts.

Exact details are to be announced on November 1.

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The scheme has been implemented after the National Grid warned households could face three-hour blackouts this winter.

The company, which is responsible for the UK's gas and electricity supply, said there might not be enough power for the country if the energy crisis continues.

This might be the case on particularly cold days, when people are using more energy, and the UK's supplies are pushed to the limit.

Some energy suppliers are offering customers payment holidays to help them through the winter as well.

Octopus Energy announced a huge £40million support package giving dual fuel customers on standard variable tariffs an automatic 4% discount on their standing charges from October 1.

Standing charges are the basic daily cost you need to pay to your supplier regardless of how much energy you use.

OVO Energy said customers on prepayment meters can get debt payment holidays this winter as well.

The supplier announced customers who are struggling with rising energy prices can access a new £50million customer support package as of October 1.

Economy tariffs – how do they work?

Economy 7 or 10 tariffs are sometimes referred to as a "differential" or "multi-tariff rate".

They can be a cheaper energy option than other price plans because you’ll commit to using most of your energy at night.

This means you can get a good discount for the units you use during the off-peak hours.

These tariffs are best suited to people with storage heaters and a hot water tank, which can be heated up at night when it’s cheapest and then used to provide hot water and heating for the next day.

A lot of modern appliances also include a timer, so you can set your washing machine and dishwasher to run during the off-peak window.

How much could I save?

The exact savings you can make will vary depending on the type of appliance you have and the settings they're on.

Plus, you should be careful of running electrical appliances like these overnight when you're asleep as it can be a fire risk.

But you can save up to hundreds of pounds.

Savvy saver Scott Dixon previously told The Sun he saves £725 a year on his Economy 7 tariff.

More ways to save on your laundry costs

You could also reduce the cost by doing an extra 10 minute spin in the washing machine to get it more dry beforehand.

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch.com, previously told The Sun that tumble dryers are one of the most energy intensive devices in the home.

Owen said: "The longer your tumble dryer’s cycle, the more money it will cost you.

If your clothes are dripping wet, it will have to run much longer to get them dry, increasing your energy bill dramatically.“

Also keep in mind that overloading the drum is likely to put your machine under strain and end up costing you more in the long run, while underloading the device will waste energy.”

Energy experts at Energyhelpline estimate that a tumble dryer uses around £1 worth of electricity per cycle – but a washing machine uses only around 15p.

Turning down the cycle heat, or just giving your tumble dryer a good clear out could aid in reducing your bill.

Following the steps should knock the annual cost down to around £60 on average, and they are simple enough changes to make everyday.

Lisa Barber, Which? home products and services editor, said: “One of the easiest things people can do is to reduce washing machine temperatures, as switching to 30°C could save £13 in annual costs, while 20°C could cut £24.

“Maintaining your tumble dryer could trim your bill, as filters blocking up with dust and lint from clothes can add nearly £20 to annual laundry costs.

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“Making the switch to a Which? Best Buy detergent could also save people close to £50 a year, with some cheap Best Buys costing as little as 7p per wash."

Meanwhile, the Good Housekeeping Institute reckons you should wash jeans, jumpers and towels after every three uses. But if they look and smell OK, hold off for the sake of the planet — and your wallet.

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