Huge rise in energy bills forecast by report

23/06/2009

The average home will face a £4,200-per-year energy bill in the future, a major new report has found.

uSwitch predicted that the massive rise in costs, with the typical bill costing £1,250 at the moment, would occur within a decade.

Increased demand for gas and electricity from single-member households was said to be a factor in this increase.

The drying-up of UK energy sources such as North Sea oil was also cited by the researchers.

Customers were advised yesterday to always shop around for the best energy tariff and to boost their own energy efficiency to keep bills low over the long term.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch, said: "My advice to consumers is to invest in making your home more energy efficient, reduce the amount of energy you use and make sure you are paying the lowest possible price for it."

Also commenting on the report, EuroDebt director Kevin Still said: "For people in an unmanageable debt situation, investing in energy saving devices and alternative energy sources may be beyond their means, but shopping around for the best provider and tariff is still essential. EuroDebt added energy switching services for exactly this reason - to help individuals and households gain access to the best provider based upon their circumstances.

"Often the best short-term investment is having access to the Internet to gain the benefit of the best tariffs and go paperless. We are also introducing pre-paid current accounts to ensure that all UK residents have access to payment methods that don't socially exclude people in financial difficulty."

Energy bills in the UK have grown by 114 per cent over the past five years.

Tags; Housing Debt and Bills, Young Family Finances, Retirement Money Problems, Credit Card Lifestyle,

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