6th February 2012
Many householders are wearing extra layers or wrapping themselves in blankets rather than face the hefty energy bills that will be dropping through their letterbox after the current cold snap is over.
Research from uSwitch.com revealed that a third (34 per cent) of consumers are only heating one or two rooms of their house this winter in order to save on bills, despite the fact that installing Dimplex electric heaters for homes could be a relatively cheap option.
The survey even found more of us will be donning various winter accoutrements, such as scarves and hats, to save on the heating.
Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at the energy comparison site, commented that the 21 per cent rise in fuel prices since the end of 2010 has resulted in a 14 per cent increase in the number of people rationing their energy consumption in the winter.
"We have been lucky because of the mild weather and next year households will hopefully feel some benefit from the recent £34 or 2.6 per cent cut in energy prices. Consumers can also make their money go further by making their homes energy efficient and making sure that they are paying the lowest price for the energy they do use," she noted.
"But if Britain isn't to carry on freezing we need a helping hand and I would now urge the government to look at making our gas and electricity exempt from VAT so that every household can enjoy some respite and not be forced to go cold next winter," Ms Robinson said, adding that, like food and water, energy is an "essential for life" and so should be zero-rated.
Meanwhile, the Met Office has warned that the current freezing weather that is due to continue across the UK this week could put vulnerable people at risk of serious illness or even death.
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