As cold weather looms, concerns grow again about energy bills

Worries are growing about a possible new energy bill crisis, as cold weather looms for Britain. 

“Winter is coming, and for millions of households, high energy bills will be an even bigger problem than last year,” says the End Fuel Poverty Coalition.  

The campaign group’s warning follows others that the UK’s fuel crisis is “growing by the week”. 

Some 55% of Britons have already put their heating on this year, while 42% have not, according to a YouGov poll published this week.  

“For millions of households, this winter will be even worse than the last, because while energy bills are dropping slightly, prices are still nearly double what they were and without any additional support,” wrote the Warm this Winter campaign on its website. 

Energy bills in the UK remain “well above” the average before the energy crisis took hold in 2021 and the market remains volatile, according to regulator Ofgem. 

Soaring energy costs caused concern across Europe last year, with Russia’s invasion sending oil and gas prices sky-high.

Most households in Britain received a £400 (€460) discount on their energy bills last winter via a government subsidy, but the scheme is not in place this winter.

Almost one in seven Brits now owe money to their energy provider, shooting up 11% compared to last year, revealed research by Uswtich, published this month. 

More than half of households are worried about how they will pay their bills when the cold begins to bite this winter, and 25% plan to not turn their heating on at all, it also found. 

Those who cannot put the heating on face dire consequences. 

Studies show there is a significant relationship between fuel poverty and poor mental health, including higher rates of depression and anxiety.

There were almost 5,000 excess winter deaths due to cold homes last winter, according to the UK government’s Energy Security and Net Zero Committee. 

“Britain’s broken energy system continues to inflict misery on homes across the country with increased standing charges and profits hurting consumers while rewarding the energy firms,” wrote Warm This Winter in an October press release. 

“Without fundamental overhaul of the energy grid and energy tariffs, households will continue to lose out while suppliers will profit.

“Customers should not be subsidising fancy headquarters, entertaining and marketing when these companies are making billions. That money should be used to end energy debt and lower bills,” it added. 

Citizens Advice found that in the first 6 months of 2023, at least 7.8 million people have had to borrow money to cover their energy bills. 

Meanwhile, 1.2 million children in Britain live in households which have had to go without heating, hot water and electricity. 

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The charity has issued a warning that if the Government doesn’t step in, these numbers will rise this winter.

A spokesperson from Britain’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero recently told Reuters it was “supporting the most vulnerable this winter, by helping an estimated 3 million families with 150 pounds off energy bills through the Warm Home Discount.”