Octopus says an energy-efficient electric blanket could heat a person for just 2-4p an hour (Image: Getty)
Octopus Energy has issued a ‘2p an hour rule’ that could benefit elderly people living on their own this winter.
According to the energy supplier, it’s possible to keep warm during the colder months for as little as 2p an hour simply by investing in an electric blanket. While most of us naturally reach for the thermostat as temperatures turn cold, running the central heating is an expensive business, particularly as Ofgem’s energy price cap increased by 4% this month, adding around £60 more per year to the average bill.
The latest price hike means the bill for the average household paying by direct debit for gas and electricity reached £1,723 per year and experts are predicting the cap will rise by a further 16% to £1,999 on January 1 – up by £276 on the level between October and December.
So with higher energy costs on the horizon, it will certainly pay to start saving money where you can – and that’s where an electric blanket comes in.
Octopus says paying to heat your entire home costs around £4 per day, but simply paying to warm yourself with an electric blanket costs mere pennies by comparison at just 2-4p per hour.
Unlike the central heating which heats the whole house, an electric blanket only needs to heat a small area, so it’s a much more cost effective way to keep warm. Of course, the running cost can vary depending on the energy rating of the blanket, but the savings are still significant.
Octopus says elderly people who live alone and have mobility issues, which could include many state pensioners, could benefit most from an electric blanket, potentially saving them around £300 per year.
The supplier said: “One of our boffins realised that some customers were paying to heat their entire homes, even if they lived alone. He did some calculations and found out that where heating a whole home cost about £4 a day, an energy-efficient electric blanket could heat a person for just 2-4p an hour.
“This means an electric blanket is a vastly more cost-effective way to stay warm: particularly for people with mobility issues, for example, and those who spend a lot of time in one spot. Or those with medical issues that mean they feel the cold more, or are more prone to illness.”
Octopus says an electric blanket typically costs around £40 to buy and its research shows the typical home could save £300 annually by using one to stay warm, rather than always heating their entire house.
The supplier provides electric blankets for free to some customers who it identifies as most in need when they fill in its financial assistance tool, including the elderly and those with mobility issues or other medical conditions, which means they’re more impacted by the cold.
As of August 2026, Octopus Energy has given out more than 110,000 free electric blankets and said customers who got one saved up to 10-20% on their bills on average in the winter months.
To get a free electric blanket, you first need to apply to the Octo Assist fund and you should hear back to see if you’re eligible for support in about a week.
The supplier added: “We know everyone’s worried about bills right now, but some people are struggling much more than others. We need to prioritise customers who’ll benefit most: the elderly, and those with mobility issues or other medical conditions that mean they’re more impacted by the cold.
“These blankets start at around £40 and can save you £300 or more, so they’re really worth the investment. If you can consider buying one yourself, please do – there might be someone else out there who truly can’t afford to buy one.”
