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The cost of keeping warm now 63% higher than 5 years ago

Tahmina Mannan
Written By:
Tahmina Mannan
Posted:
Updated:
28/11/2012

The cost of heating a home is now 63% higher than it was five years ago, as consumers face another winter of energy price hikes from 5 of the ‘Big 6′ suppliers, says a new report.

According to uSwitch.com, the average bill is now £227 higher than in 2008, with the average household bill now £1,334 a year. Heating accounts for almost 44% of this.

Ann Robinson, director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, said: “It now costs households a staggering 63% more a year to heat their home than it did five years ago.

“This increase has knocked consumers for six, leaving many fearful of how they will afford to keep warm during the winter months and leading to growing numbers rationing their energy use even during the harshest weather.

“Recent price hikes from energy suppliers will add £753 million onto energy bills and push 314,000 households into fuel poverty.

“Many households will feel that they have little choice but to turn their heating down or off, and by doing so risk gambling with their health.”

Last winter three quarters of households – potentially 19.5m – went without heating at some point to keep energy costs down.

Soaring energy bills have left almost nine in ten households planning to ration their energy usage this winter.

Robinson added: “However, consumers can reduce the amount they spend on heating, without compromising their wellbeing or qualify of life.

“There are many low-cost or free insulation offers available that will make homes more energy efficient and there is currently over £300 difference between the cheapest and most expensive energy tariffs on the market.

“These two steps will reduce the amount of energy we use and the amount we pay for it and are our best defence against the high cost of energy today.”


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