Households go without heating to save on bills
Higher energy prices have led to a shock rise in the number of people cutting down or rationing their energy usage, according to new research from uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service. Over three quarters of people (76%) have cut down or rationed their energy usage this winter because of cost - a 7% increase on last year - while there has been an 8% increase in the number of people who have regularly gone without heating.
Despite Britain seeing the coldest December in 100 years, 55% of people have gone without heating at some point this winter to keep their energy costs down. Shockingly, two in ten (20%) have regularly gone without - an 8% increase on last year. In total, 14 million households are estimated to have gone cold at some point this winter - one million more than last winter.
Energy price hikes have played a major part in the increasing number of Brits who are self-rationing. Over a quarter (28%) are now more likely to go without heating this winter as a result of recent energy price rises while the hikes have made 79% of people more aware of the cost of their household energy. As a result, while not going without heating, 21% of people have been colder at home this winter than they would have liked to be.
Many have been forced to find creative ways to stay warm, including leaving the oven door open after cooking (37%), only using one or two rooms (34%) and wrapping up in a blanket when sitting down (52%). Sadly for some though, the cold actually forced them out of their homes with just over one in ten (13%) visiting friends, family and even the local library to keep warm.
Energy rationing can have a heavy toll though, with 14% of people acknowledging that the cutbacks they are making are affecting their health or quality of life. Worryingly, despite self-rationing 23% are still concerned about their next fuel bill.
Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: "Self-rationing isn't about energy efficiency - it's about people going cold. The fact is that this winter's price hikes have resulted in an 8% increase in the number of people regularly going without heating, even though December was the coldest in 100 years. This is the unacceptable price that British consumers are being forced to pay because of the high cost of energy today.
"The impact on health and quality of life should not be underestimated. There really is no room for complacency - we must all start thinking about and managing our energy usage very differently to in the past. There are two key steps to this - use less energy by making your home more energy efficient and pay less for the energy you do use. The good news is that over a quarter of us (27%) are now more likely to adopt energy efficiency measures because of the cold weather we have seen this winter."