Poll shows 1 in 4 set to go without heating this winter as bills rocket
Survey suggests families with children are even more likely to turn it off
A poll suggests fears of unafforable energy bills mean nearly one in four adults are planning never to turn their heating on this winter.
The survey was commissioned for the Liberal Democrates - carried out by Savanta ComRes - before the new price cap was announced on Friday and the figure is even higher for parents with children under 18.
The poll asked more than 2,000 UK adults how they would respond to increasing energy prices over the winter - 23% said they would not turn their heating on at all, rising to 27% among parents with under-18s.
Seven in 10 (69%) said they would switch their heating on less, and one in 10 (11%) said they would take out a loan, with the latter figure rising again for those with children under 18 (17%).
The polling, which was conducted between July 29 and July 30, also suggests that parents of under-18s are increasingly likely to put more on their credit card due to rising energy bills (33% compared with national average of 23%).
Price cap shock
It comes amid resounding warnings that people are in for a dire winter, with the energy price cap set to rise by 80% by October, pushing the average household's yearly bill up from £1,971 to £3,549.
Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has said he is working "flat out" to draw up options for a plan of action for the next prime minister so they can "hit the ground running" when they take office in September.
But some say the Government has been missing in action, while neither Tory leadership candidate has set out in full how they would help people ahead of the contest's conclusion.
READ MORE: Bills unaffordable for 1 in 4
How our energy bills have rocketed
Interest rates and inflation go up
Inflation rose by 8.8% in the 12 months to January 2023, down from 9.2% in December 2022. With interest rates also rising to 4%, those saving money will earn more interest on their finances, whilst those paying mortgages would pay more interest to the bank.
Energy bills
The price of energy went up incredibly as the cost of living crisis hit, with the gas price spike caused largely by the war in Ukraine. The price cap - which is set by an independent regulator to help offset costs onto customers - was set to rise to £3,549 for an average home in October but a price freeze from the government restricted the typical bill to £2,500. That's still an increase of 27% from the previous energy cap and as it's a cap on unit cost, the more energy you use the higher your bill will be.
Food prices
The cost of a weekly shop also has gone up as a result of the cost of living crisis. As a result of the war in Ukraine, a number of products including cooking oils and wheat have been disrupted. This means that several products are now considerably more expensive, driving bills up for customers.
Prices at the pumps
The average cost of petrol has also rose to unprecedented levels. Supply lines for petrol have been thrown into doubt as a result of the war in Ukraine, as Russia is a large export partner for gas, oil and fuel. In April 2022, the average price for a litre of petrol on the forecourt was 160.2p, whilst a litre of diesel would cost 170.5p. By late June 2022 the price had risen to an average of 190.9p for a litre of unleaded and 198.9p for a litre of diesel. In March 2023 the price wass on average of 147.03 in petrol and 167.04 in diesel.
Average cost of filling up a car with petrol hits £100
On 9th June 2022, the average cost of filling up a car with petrol hit £100 for the first time ever. Diesel had already hit that milestone. It comes as the cost of fuel hit a record high of one pound eighty a litre. The 2p rise was the biggest daily jump in 17 years. Prices have dropped by at least 20p per litre since the high point.
Families face 'heartbreaking decisions'
Christine Jardine, the Lib Dems' Cabinet Office spokeswoman, said: "Families and pensioners across the country are making heartbreaking decisions because the Government has failed to save them.
"It is a national scandal that parents are having to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children. It shouldn't be like this.
"Britain is on the brink of the worst cost-of-living crisis in a century and yet still Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak will not scrap the energy price rise. It is clear energy prices must not be allowed to rise in October."
The party is calling for ministers to scrap the energy price cap rise in October, funded partly by a further windfall tax on oil and gas companies.
Ms Jardine said an "economic catastrophe" is now "just a month away", blaming a "zombie Government in Westminster, and two leadership contenders living on another planet".
"It is time to tax the record multibillion pound profits of oil and gas companies and use the money to save British families and pensioners," she said.
Help is coming , says UK Government
A Government spokesperson said: "We know people are incredibly worried about rising energy bills, following unprecedented gas prices across the continent driven by global events, including (Vladimir) Putin's aggression in Ukraine and his weaponisation of energy in Europe.
"Direct support will continue to reach people's pockets in the weeks and months ahead, targeted at those who need it most like low-income households, pensioners and those with disabilities.
"As part of our £37 billion package of help for households, one in four of all UK households will see £1,200 extra support, provided in instalments across the year, and everyone will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills over winter.
"The Civil Service is also making the appropriate preparations in order to ensure that any additional support or commitments on cost of living can be delivered as quickly as possible when the new prime minister is in place."