Cold snap could push household energy bills up by £7 a week
As snow and freezing temperatures strike, Uswitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, warns that the cold snap could cost cash-strapped consumers an extra £7 a week on their energy bills, adding to the misery of winter price hikes.
All of Britain’s big six energy suppliers have announced price hikes this winter, with the last one, E.ON’s, due to come into effect next Friday (18th January). As a result, the average household energy bill has hit a record £1,352 a year. And with heating accounting for 44% of this, freezing winter weather will see consumers bearing the full brunt. If the freeze lasts for a month, households could be facing an additional £30 on their next energy bill.
Tom Lyon, energy expert at Uswitch.com, says: “It costs just over £3 a day on average to heat a home, but during a severe cold snap this could easily rise by £1 a day. If freezing weather sets in for a month, it’s perfectly feasible for households to see an extra £30 added onto their next energy bill and this will be a real struggle for some.
“The worry is that many households will try to make ends meet by cutting back on their heating. This is why it’s so important that households with an elderly resident check whether they are eligible for winter fuel payments, and why those on benefits such as pension credit, make sure they get the cold weather allowance.
“I would also urge consumers to check that they are on the most competitive energy plan for their needs. Moving to a better deal will mean paying less for the energy you use, which could make all the difference when temperatures plummet. And instead of going without heat, adopting simple energy efficiency measures is a safer way of reducing the amount of energy you use. These two simple steps are everyone’s best defence against the high cost of energy this winter, and for many winters to come.”
Notes to editors
Calculations are based on a medium user customer using 3,300 kWh of electricity and 16,500 kWh of gas, on a standard Dual Fuel plan, paying quarterly by cash or cheque with bill sizes averaged across all suppliers and all regions. The cost of the average annual standard bill will be £1,352, as of the 18th January, 2013. On average 44% of the average energy bill goes on heating (source: Energy Saving Trust), assuming consumers use heating for 6 months of the year it will cost the average household £3.26 a day to heat their home (44% of £1,352 = £595 x 2 divided by 365 days = £3.26). Uswitch.com estimates that during extreme cold snaps this could increase by £1 a day or £7 a week.
Based on a medium user customer using 16,500 kWh gas and 3,300 kWh electricity, paying quarterly on receipt of bill with bill sizes averaged across the big 6 suppliers and across all regions.
About us
It’s all about “U”!
Thank you for indulging us over the last 20 years by using a small ‘u’ and a big ‘S’ when writing about our brand in your articles.
We are delighted to let you know that you are now off the hook - it’s big U’s all the way (and small s’s) as we undertake our biggest ever rebrand - so let your autocorrect go wild!
About Uswitch
Uswitch is the UK’s top comparison website for home services switching. Launched in September 2000, we help consumers save money on their gas, electricity, broadband, mobile, TV, and financial services products and get more of what matters to them. Last year we saved consumers over £373 million on their energy bills alone.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a new business that also owns Money.co.uk and Bankrate.
If you would no longer like to receive our press releases please email prteam@uswitch.com with 'unsubscribe'.