New research uncovers the lengths that consumers are reaching to keep escalating energy bills under control. Over seven in ten (73%) households have gone without heating at some point this winter to cut costs with over a third saying that this has affected their quality of life or health.
73% of households have gone without heating at some point this winter to keep energy costs down – just under one in four (23%) are doing this regularly
Almost eight in ten (79%) have cut down or rationed their energy use this winter due to the increased cost – despite this 85% are concerned about their winter energy bill
Over a third of people (36%) say that cutting back on energy has affected their quality of life or health
Almost nine in ten (89%) consider the cost before switching their heating on
Just 15% of people think that household energy is affordable in the UK today.
This winter’s energy price hikes have led to an increase in the number of households going without heating and rationing their energy use to cut costs, according to new research from Uswitch.com, the independent and impartial price comparison and switching service. Almost three quarters of households (73%) have gone without heating at some point this winter to keep costs under control, up from 69% last year. Worryingly, just under one in four (23%) are doing this regularly.
As Britain plunges into an affordability crisis, almost eight in ten (79%) have cut down or rationed their energy usage this winter, up from 74% last year, and 45% say that they have gone cold at home this winter due to the high cost of energy. This is affecting people’s well-being as over a third (36%) say that cutting back on their energy usage is affecting their quality of life or health. Such is the concern about energy bills that almost nine in ten consumers (89%) consider the cost before switching their heating on.
The findings come during Citizens Advice’s Big Energy Savings Week – designed to help people cut their fuel bills – and demonstrate that this help cannot come fast enough. Consumers are still struggling as, despite the reductions to energy bills following the Government’s review of levies on bills, households are still £53 a year on average worse off following the recent price hikes. Even more astounding is that the average household energy bill has rocketed by £792 or 168% in a decade, from £472 a year in 2004 to £1,264 a year by this March.
This has left consumers reeling – just 15% think that household energy is affordable in the UK today, while just two in ten (20%) can comfortably afford their energy bills. And there is little faith that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Over eight in ten (83%) expect the cost of household energy to increase again this year with 67% saying they would be very concerned if it did.
Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at Uswitch.com, says: “It simply beggars belief that in 2014 people in Britain are going cold because they can’t afford to have their heating on. Keeping warm is not a luxury, it’s a necessity, and severely rationing energy use can have serious consequences for health and well-being.
“The tragic fact is that consumers just aren’t coping with the high cost of energy today. The situation is getting worse year on year and far more needs to be done by the Government and suppliers to make affordability a priority and to support consumers in taking the right steps to cut their bills.
“Rather than compromising on their health, I would urge consumers to follow the two golden rules to lowering household energy bills. The first is to ensure their home is as energy efficient as possible so that they aren’t wasting energy, and the second is to pay as little as possible for what they do use by switching to the cheapest tariff for their needs.”
Alexa Wheeler
Phone: 0207 1484 661
Email: alexa.wheeler@uswitch.com
Twitter: @uswitchPR
All research referred to below was conducted with the Uswitch.com Consumer Opinion Panel amongst 1,021 respondents in January 2014.
In response to: ‘Have you gone without heating this winter to keep your energy costs down?’ 50% said ‘occasionally’, 20% said ‘regularly’, 3% said ‘always’. This adds up to 73% who went without heating at some point this winter.
In response to: ‘Do you think you’re achieving the right balance this winter between keeping your home warm and managing costs?’ 36% said ‘No – the cutbacks I’m making are affecting my quality of life and/or health.’
In response to: ‘Have you gone without heating this winter to keep your energy costs down?’ 20% said ‘regularly’, 3% said ‘always’. This adds up to 23% who went without heating regularly at some point this winter.
In response to: ‘Have you cut down or rationed your energy use this winter due to the increased cost of energy?’ 79% said ‘yes’.
In response to ‘Are you concerned about you winter energy bill?’ 85% said ‘yes’.
In response to: ‘Do you consider the cost before switching your heating on?’ 53% said always and 36% said sometimes – these add up to 89%.
In response to: ‘Is household energy affordable in the UK today?’ 15% said ‘Affordable’.
In response to: Have you gone cold at home this winter due to the high cost of energy?’ 45% said ‘yes’.
Based on a medium user customer using 3,200 kWh of electricity and 13,500 kWh of gas, on a standard dual fuel plan, paying quarterly by cash or cheque with bill sizes averaged across the big six suppliers and all regions.
In response to: ‘Which of the following best applies to you?’ 20% said ‘I can comfortably afford my energy bills.’
In response to: ‘Do you expect the cost of household energy to increase again this year?’ 83% said ‘yes’.
In response to ‘How concerned would you be if energy prices increased again this year?’ 67% said ‘very’.
In response to: ‘Have you done any of the following to keep warm this winter rather than put on the heating?’ Tick all that apply.
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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.
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