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Poll: 67% of households worried about heating bills
08/12/10
Nearly seven out of ten households (67.3 per cent) are concerned about how they will pay for heating this winter, according to a new poll.The survey of 2,714 people by moneysupermarket.com found that 39.8 per cent are worried they will not be able to afford to stay warm if freezing temperatures continue for a prolonged period, up from 26.9 per cent in 2009.
Another 27.5 per cent of respondents admitted they are already struggling to cover the cost of heating, an increase of 3.2 percentage points on last year.
The comparison site said the rising anxiety over fuel bills is not surprising given that three of the big six utility companies - British Gas, ScottishPower and Scottish & Southern Energy - have recently announced price rises.
These increases have taken the average cost of gas and electricity in the UK to almost £1,300 a year, it added.
Scott Byrom, moneysupermarket.com's energy manager, commented: "Consumers can fight back against price rises by voting with their feet and turning to a better priced deal."
According to previous research by the site, residential property owners could save an average of £263 a year by switching to the best tariffs on the market.
