Rising Energy Prices: Can a Wood Burning Stove Help?
Energy prices in the UK are rising again, and if there's one thing the last few years have taught us, it's how much our household energy costs can be affected by things far outside our control. Bills climb quickly on the back of global events, and they're always slow to come back down. So it's worth asking: what does that mean for your home, and if you have a modern wood burning stove, could it help?
Just how much have energy prices risen?
In Great Britain, household energy costs are governed by the energy price cap, set by the regulator Ofgem. When the cap was introduced in 2019, the typical household paid around £1,137 a year for gas and electricity. Then came the energy crisis. Driven by global gas shortages and the war in Ukraine, the cap rose by 54% in April 2022, and by a further 27% that October. Without government support at the time, the increase would have been steeper still.
Prices have eased from those peaks, but they've never returned to where they started. According to the House of Commons Library, bills for typical use under the late-2026 cap remain around 58% higher than they were in the winter of 2021/22, and wholesale gas prices spiked again in 2026 to their highest level since early 2023. The exact headline figure changes every three months, and the way it's calculated has been revised more than once, so the number itself matters less than the pattern behind it: energy is more expensive than it was, and it moves in ways households simply can't plan around.
So where does a wood burning stove fit in?
A stove isn't intended to replace your central heating, but it can give you another option when it comes to heating your home. Rather than heating the whole house when you're spending most of your time in one room, you can use your stove to create a lovely, warm and comfortable space where you actually are. A modern, efficient wood burning stove is a world away from an open fire, giving out far more heat from the same amount of fuel.
And there's another benefit that's easy to overlook: choice. A wood burning stove gives you an independent source of heat, meaning you're not completely reliant on gas or electricity to keep a room warm. Off grid, if you like. For many households, having that flexibility is becoming increasingly valuable.
Getting the best from your stove
Of course, it's important to burn good quality, properly seasoned or Ready to Burn wood, and to use your stove correctly. Not only does this help your stove perform at its best, it also helps keep emissions and chimney deposits to a minimum. A regular sweep and service keeps it running safely and efficiently, too.
More than just warmth
With another winter of rising energy costs ahead, having a stove can provide more than just warmth. It can give you another option, a little more flexibility and resilience, and a beautiful focal point for your home.
Thinking about having a stove installed? We'd be very happy to help you explore whether one would work for your home, honestly and with no pressure. As a local, OFTEC and HETAS-registered team who have been selling, installing and sweeping stoves across Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire for over 22 years, we know stoves inside out.
Or email info@greenmanstoves.co.uk
Energy price figures are drawn from the House of Commons Library briefing ‘Gas and electricity prices during the energy crisis and beyond’ and were correct at the time of publishing. The energy price cap is reviewed every three months, so current figures may differ.
