Brits struggle to pay gas and electricity bills

Brits are struggling to pay for their gas and electricity and are being forced to take drastic action according to research from moneysupermarket.com.

Britain's number one comparison site revealed that worries about the cost of their bills meant over three quarters (78 per cent) of bill payers didn't use their heating as much as they would have liked to, or are concerned about whether they can afford to pay for their consumption. Of that 78 per cent, one in five (22 per cent) confessed they were so worried they stopped using their heating altogether as they couldn't afford it, and 17 per cent cut back on using their central heating but did manage to keep warm. Over a third (39 per cent) admitted to using their heating as much as necessary - but revealed they are now anxious about how to pay the bill.

Scott Byrom, utilities manager at moneysupermarket.com said: "It's clear the high energy bills we saw over the coldest winter for 30 years were far beyond what many Brits can afford. While we have seen providers beginning to reduce their prices, these cuts have unfortunately been a drop in the ocean, and to add insult to injury most of the price reductions announced recently don't come into effect until the end of the month, once the worst of the cold period is well and truly over. With gas bills coming down by just 5.8 per cent on average, consumers will need to see further reductions before they can afford their bills. Our research shows people resorted to drastic measures such as not turning on their heating at all because they simply could not afford it - I am sure they will be breathing a sigh of relief now that we are moving into spring."

"Rather than wait for further price cuts, customers need to be proactive and start making their own savings, by voting with their feet and swapping away from their current deal. Switching to an online pay monthly tariffs could save on average £260 per year compared to the standard quarterly tariffs. Effectively, this would mean an immediate 22 per cent price cut to your annual bills.2 While for many customers switching to a new provider is the best option, at the very least customers should contact their current provider and ask to move to its cheapest tariff."