Editorial Policy

Last updated: 14 August

This page explains how WarmerBills produces its content, where our numbers come from, and how we handle commercial relationships. We publish it because a site about what things cost is only useful if you can trust the arithmetic.

Our one rule

Every article gives you a number, and shows how we got it.

If we cannot show the working, we do not publish the figure.

How we calculate running costs

Every appliance running-cost article uses the same method:

(Wattage ÷ 1000) × Hours of use × Unit rate = Cost

Three things go into that, and we publish all three in a table on every article:

Wattage — taken from manufacturer specifications for typical models in that category, not the most or least efficient example available.

Hours of use — a realistic usage pattern, stated explicitly. Where usage varies a lot, we give a range or a table of scenarios.

Unit rate — a single stated pence-per-kWh figure, identical across every article on this site. It appears in a highlighted box on every calculation so you can substitute your own rate from your bill.

Because we publish the assumptions, you can always check our figure against your own circumstances. That is the point.

Where our information comes from

  • Manufacturer specifications and product documentation
  • Ofgem published figures and price cap announcements
  • UK government energy statistics and guidance
  • Industry bodies and trade associations
  • Actual household bills and meter readings

Where a figure is contested or sources disagree, we say so rather than picking the number that makes for a better headline.

How often we update

Energy prices change, and a running-cost article with an out-of-date unit rate is worse than useless.

  • Every quarter, we review the site-wide unit rate assumption and update affected articles.
  • When Ofgem announces a price cap change, we review the affected content.
  • When a reader reports an error, we check it promptly.

Every article shows a “last updated” date at the top. If that date looks old to you, treat the figures with appropriate caution and check the current rate on your own bill.

Corrections

We get things wrong sometimes. When we do:

  1. We check the report
  2. We correct the article
  3. We note the correction and its date at the bottom of the article

We do not quietly change figures and pretend the original was never there.

To report an error, email [email protected] with the article title and the figure you think is wrong.

What we will not publish

  • A recommendation we do not believe. Several articles on this site conclude that a popular product does not pay for itself, and those conclusions stay.
  • Installation instructions for work that legally requires a registered gas or electrical engineer.
  • A cost figure without its supporting calculation.
  • Content generated without human research, review and fact-checking.

Advertising

This site carries display advertising through Google AdSense. That advertising is what keeps every article free to read.

Advertisers have no influence over our content. They do not see articles before publication, cannot request changes, and cannot buy a favourable conclusion. Ad slots are filled automatically by Google — we do not choose which specific advertisers appear.

Sponsored content

We may accept sponsored articles. When we do, these rules apply without exception:

  • It is clearly labelled as sponsored at the top of the article, before the content.
  • Links are marked rel="sponsored" as Google requires.
  • It has to be genuinely useful. Sponsored content meets the same standard as our own — real information, honestly presented.
  • We limit the volume. A site full of sponsored posts is not a publication, it is a billboard.
  • We turn work down. We only accept sponsors relevant to UK home energy and home improvement, and we decline sectors unrelated to what our readers came here for.

If you ever see sponsored content on this site that is not clearly labelled, please tell us — that would be a serious failure on our part.

Affiliate links

Some articles may contain affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if you buy through them at no extra cost to you.

Affiliate links never change our conclusion. Where we recommend against a product, we say so whether or not there is a commission attached — and there are articles on this site that do exactly that.

Who writes this site

WarmerBills is written and edited by Edward Cox.

We are researchers and writers, not engineers, electricians or financial advisers. What we are good at is finding the data, doing the arithmetic and explaining it clearly. Where a question needs a qualified professional, we say so plainly rather than guessing.

Feedback

This policy is a commitment, and commitments should be testable. If you think we have fallen short of it, tell us: [email protected].