Energy expert lifts lid on Brits’ top queries

Tom Hicks, who has been on the tools for eight years, is unlikely to be the only one after a survey of 4,000 adults found as many as one in 20 (6%) have no idea where their fuse box is. And 14% aren’t confident they know how it works either, even if they do know where it’s located.

He also regularly manages queries with households being completely stumped about where they can find their energy meter. And often finds himself fielding questions about why certain electrical items continuously trip out.

When visiting properties, Tom often spots things that need attention, such as outdated wiring that should be replaced every 15 to 20 years, during a visual safety check he does when installing a smart meter.

He advises that in a power cut you should first turn off all appliances, check your fuse box to see if the electricity has tripped, and if it hasn’t, see if your neighbours have been affected too.

Other common recommendations he has for people are to get boilers serviced every 12 months and to contact a gas safe boiler engineer if you see any fine sooting or abnormal marks on the surrounding walls.

Tom’s six months of intense training prior to installing smart meters are regularly tested, with customers relying on him for safety and energy saving advice.

With 44% of the adults polled relying on tradespeople when things go wrong, even for the simplest of tasks, for peace of mind that everything is safe (48%) – or because they’ll simply do a better job (65%).

Tom, who is working with Smart Energy GB to highlight the safety checks performed during smart meter installations, said: “Safety should always be your number one priority when it comes to energy equipment at home. It’s important to know what to look out for and make the most of the free checks and support available to households.”

The survey also found 26% of adults are unsure where their stopcock can be found. While a third don’t know how to turn off the electricity in their home and 49% could not bleed a radiator.

But it also emerged 13% would ‘never’ start a DIY job they weren’t already familiar with, with plumbers, electricians and gas safe engineers the tradesfolk most relied upon.

And Gen Z are only second-most likely to watch a ‘how to’ posts on social media when tackling a new task (44%), compared to 49% of Millennials.

While those aged 65+ who are responsible for maintaining their own homes were least likely to need to bring in a professional to finish a job they’d started themselves. But those aged 25-34 have typically had to do this three times in the last two years.

The research, carried out via OnePoll, also revealed 62% are unaware of the advice they could access via a free visual safety check of gas and electrical equipment, carried out by a qualified engineer with a smart meter installation.

TV personality and chef Rustie Lee, also known for her time on Celebrity Super Spa and Celebrity Mastermind, has teamed up with Smart Energy GB to share her experience of getting work done in her home.

Rustie said: “I think I’m quite handy when it comes to fixing things at home and I’m proud to say I can rewire a plug! And like many people, I also rely on an expert to do some jobs properly. But energy meters are not something I’ve ever really thought about, because they just sit in a cupboard out of sight.

“Since I found out that I get a free visual safety check when my smart meter is installed, it’s made me realise that the equipment I have is probably quite old. Which could well be the case for others too, so getting it checked is probably a good idea!

“Staying safe is important so I’m pleased to know I’ll be getting a safety check to make sure the energy equipment I have at home is working as it should.”