October 2024
Featured in this insight: Electricity, Financial services, Gas, Public health & wellbeing, Water
Almost half of Great Britain may need to turn down or turn off their heating or hot water this winter: A recent survey by Citizens Advice found that 48% of respondents said they would have to reduce or stop using heating or hot water this winter if energy bills increased. Since the survey, energy costs have risen by 10%, meaning many in Great Britain may be without heating or hot water during the winter.
The survey, conducted by Yonder Data Solutions for Citizens Advice, used a representative sample of 2,209 GB adults and was carried out in July 2024. Respondents were asked what actions they would take to manage their finances this winter if their energy bills increased by the amount they have. Options included using less heating/hot water, switching off the heating/hot water, going without food or other essentials, cutting back on spending for essentials, or borrowing money.
Further findings revealed that 25% of the survey respondents are so concerned about rising energy costs that they feel forced to turn off their heating and hot water this winter. This figure rises to 31% among households with children and 39% among those with a household income under £21,000.
The previously anticipated (now present) increase in energy bills is likely to create significant difficulties for many, with 34% reporting they would struggle to afford food or other essentials, such as mortgage payments, rent, or childcare. Alarmingly, 7% said they would be forced to skip meals, this would be equivalent to 4.5 million people on a domestic scale.
Dame Clare Moriarty, CEO of Citizens Advice, said: “We’re already helping record numbers of people with energy debt, but we’re now bracing ourselves for an even more challenging winter. The price cap increase will see a wave of households tipped into debt, bill payers forced to make impossible decisions to make ends meet, and families worried about the impact the cold will have on their loved ones.”
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