More than half of parents are worried about teenagers spiking their electricity bill over the summer holidays

Six in 10 parents are worried about the rising cost of bills over the summer holidays, according to a new report.

A survey of 1,000 mums and dads of children aged 13-17 anticipate their energy bills to rise as their kids spend more time at home over the school break.

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The study, carried out by Smart Energy GB, showed parents of teenagers predict four extra loads of washing to be done each week compared to outside of the school holidays.

Dishwashers could also be turned on an extra three times on top of the usual amount, with ovens switched on for four more occasions.

Households have been under financial strain over the past few years due to energy prices skyrocketing because of global events such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ofgem's energy price cap is currently £1,568, the lowest figure in two years.

However, this price is not set in stone as how much families pay each month depends on how much you use.

Former Hollyoaks regular and father of two Will Mellor said he is one of many households bracing for a rise in household bills over the summer.

The 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office' star said: “Like most families, we find our monthly bills can be quite high and as the kids get older, this isn’t likely to change any time soon.

“We were keen to better understand where we could make small changes to our routine and help reduce energy usage.

He added: "The kids love to feel independent, and we try to provide them with tools that can make their life easier moving forward - having a smart meter is just one example of this."

“We all have a better understanding of our energy usage, household bills and where we can be more energy efficient - it has made a big change overall.”

But findings from Smart Energy GB found young adults are showing signs of becoming more energy conscious.

Some 33 per cent of savvy teenagers are actively looking to reduce their energy waste at home during the summer.

To put these beliefs into action, 27% of these teens will only boil the amount of water they need when using the kettle.

A further 18% will wash clothes at a lower temperature, and 31% will have shorter showers.

What is a smart meter?

The gadgets were first introduced to homes in 2011 and initially, the government gave a target of having one in every home in the UK by 2020.

But the deadline has since been pushed back to 2025.

It doesn't cost you anything to have a smart meter installed - your energy supplier and you won't be charged - so get in touch with them and make an inquiry.

Smart meters are designed so that you no longer need to send energy suppliers traditional meter readings.

This makes your bill more accurate, too, as it's based on readings from actual usage rather than estimates.

The devices also let you track your energy use at night, during the day, and at peak times.

An in-home display is also usually provided, which connects to the meter and shows your energy usage and the cost in pounds and pence.

You can save money on your bills using a smart meter - notably by being able to take part in energy-saving schemes which reward you for using less energy at peak times.

Research from Smart Energy GB found 19 per cent of parents have had a smart meter installed, with 19 per cent claiming this saw their teenager become more aware of turning off appliances without being told to.

What are the benefits of installing a smart meter and can it reduce by energy bill?

It doesn't cost you anything to have a smart meter installed - your energy supplier will do it without being charge.

Smart meters are designed so that you no longer need to send energy suppliers traditional meter readings once you’ve got one.

And it lets you track how much energy you use at night, during the day and peak times.

The display screen will show your energy usage live and show the cost in pounds and pence.

You can save money on your energy bills using a smart meter.

It won't save you money just by having one. But being able to see your energy usage and the cost could help you understand where you can cut back.

The government's smart energy website explains: "A smart meter can help us to identify situations where we're using a lot of energy and might want to make changes to this.

"If you use the information shown on your in-home display to reduce your energy use, you could cut costs and become more energy efficient."

Your bill will be more accurate too, as it's based on readings from actual usage, rather than estimates.

You will no longer have to give meter reading.

Understanding the energy price cap

The energy price cap was first brought in on January 1, 2019, by the regulator Ofgem.

The cap was introduced with the aim of preventing the millions of households then on expensive tariffs from being over charged.

As it stands, the price cap is updated every quarter or three months.

The price cap is currently £1,568, the lowest figure in two years.

The energy price cap works by setting a limit on the maximum amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and electricity.

It ensures that prices for people on default energy tariffs are fair and that they reflect the cost of energy.

That means despite the energy price cap being £1,568, you might pay more or less than this amount, depending on your usage.

The way you pay for your energy, where you live, your meter type, and how much you use will all affect your energy bill.

For example, households which pay using direct debit are around £100 better off a year than those who pay on receipt of their bills.

Ofgem also sets a maximum daily standing charge which is what households have to pay to have their home connected to the National Grid.