Yahoo Finance COVID-19 restrictions set to cost UK £375m in Christmas and New Year energy bills
Energy comparison and switching site Energyhelpline.com has claimed that the new COVID-19 rules in the holiday period are set to cost the UK £375m ($493m) in Christmas and New Year energy bills.
According to research by the group, lockdown rules that allow three households to mix and come together for five festive days is likely to cost Britain up to £171m in energy bills. Similarly, no mixing on New Year’s Eve and Day could cost the UK up to £205m.
“It’s unsurprising that as many of us expect to have more limited Christmas and New Year’s celebrations than usual, our energy bills will be one of the first areas to take the financial brunt,” said Tom Lyon, director of energy at Energyhelpline.com.
“We can of course make changes to our plans, but given the year everyone has had, we’re sure no one wants to make further cuts to their celebrations.
“That’s why it’s now more important than ever for Brits to compare energy suppliers to ensure they’re getting the best price possible. For example, those that move to a fixed rate deal could save up to a sizable £289 per year.”
READ MORE: Full details of the UK's Christmas COVID-19 rules revealed
If the UK government decided to ban household mixing over Christmas, it would have cost up to £512m for the UK, according to the research.
Large parts of the UK, such as England, have been placed under a secondary lockdown which will be lifted on 2 December. Different regions will be placed under a tier system after the lockdown lifts.
On 24 November, the UK government said families up to three households will be allowed to mix from 23 to 27 December. Social distancing rules will not be applied while the restrictions are relaxed.
While it’s still to be confirmed what level of restriction will be in place across the UK during the holiday period, Energyhelpline.com estimated the following impact on energy bills:
WATCH: How to save on energy bills over the holiday season
