Wednesday 30 May 2012

uSwitch claim bills will be “unaffordable in three years”

uSwitch claim bills will be “unaffordable in three years”

Consumer group uSwitch has claimed energy bills will become unaffordable for consumers in three years’ time. It fears rising bills will force more people to go without heating and into fuel poverty.

The report suggests that if trends continue as they are by 2015 59% of people will be going without adequate heating and 36% will be switching their heating off entirely.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch said: “Once the average bill hits £1,500 a year consumers will be forced to compromise on their comfort, health and well-being. Time is running out - if pricing trends continue we will hit ‘crunch point’ in less than three years and that is without factoring in the cost of current energy policy.”

Earlier this month British Gas owners Centrica said: “UK wholesale gas costs are around 15% higher for next winter than last.”

Households were spending an average of £522 a year for their energy in 2004, but now pay £1,252 a year – just £248 below the ‘affordability ceiling’ of £1,500.

Nearly a third of consumers already think household energy is already unaffordable in the UK, claim uSwitch.

 

 

Written by

Bruna Pinhoni

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