Yahoo Finance Energy bill fears forcing 13 million households to keep heating switched off
People are concerned about their finances ahead of the energy price cap lifting
Millions of households across the UK are so worried about the state of their energy bills ahead of the energy price cap lifting that they would avoid turning the heating on in the cold, according to new research by consumer group Which?.
The survey of 4,000 people found high energy bills have put financial, physical and emotional strains on consumers — with nearly nine in 10 (85%) households trying to cut back on their energy usage.
Almost half (46%) said they did not not turn their heating on when it was cold last winter. This equates to an estimated 13 million households nationwide.
Meanwhile, four in 10 (37%) of those surveyed are worried that their ability to recover from illness is worse now than before the cost of living crisis began.
The energy price cap controls the maximum prices energy companies can put on bills, and is reviewed by the regulator Ofgem every three months.
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The official announcement of the price cap will come on 25 August but the price is due to change in October, just as it starts to get cold again.
"I really struggle, we are always cold at home [but] I’m too scared to put the heating on," a woman with an annual household income of less than £15,000 told Which?. “It has had a negative impact in all aspects of my life."
The research also showed that some consumers, such as lower-income households and those aged 45-64 years old, are more likely than others to not turn the heating on when it is cold.
Meanwhile, half (51%) of households with an income of less than £20,000 are not turning the heating on when it is cold compared to a third (32%) of households with annual incomes of more than £80,000.
Nearly half (46%) of households with annual incomes of £20,000 to £45,000 and just under half (45%) of households on £45,000 to £80,000 said they did not turn the heating on when it is cold.
Health experts have warned that sustained cold temperatures in homes in winter can place residents at higher risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases like asthma attacks, infections, heart disease and strokes.
“The government and energy firms need to act now to help those most in need make ends meet over the winter," said Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor. "The government must introduce a properly targeted social tariff as soon as possible, and energy firms must ensure that their customer services are equipped to properly support customers over the winter.”
The call for support comes at a time of high inflation and high interest rates, as the cost of living squeezes even the well off.
