Energy saving news: Cold weather leads to debt worry over energy bills

18/01/2010

People struggling with debt could be among the consumers who have begun to think more about their energy bills due to the prolonged spell of cold weather.

Two-thirds of people questioned said that the cold weather had meant that they were more concerned about their energy bills, a recent survey by the independent energy switching service Which? has found.

With purse strings still tight, 14 per cent of those questioned said they had had to dip into their savings in order to pay the energy bills.

Martyn Hocking, editor of Which?, commented: "There's little choice but to turn the heating up when you're faced with cold weather, so it's inevitable that people are going to worry about their bills."

However, the majority of people were prepared to take sensible, money-saving alternatives to turning up the heating.

Putting on extra clothes was a popular option, with 84 per cent of those questioned saying they would wrap up warm with extra layers.

Having a warm drink and blocking up draughts under doors were other accepted choices.

With average yearly gas and electricity bills now standing at over £1,000 a year, finding alternatives to using more energy are increasingly popular.

Kevin Still, director of EuroDebt, commented: "It is vital that people prioritise payment of bills like utilities and council tax, even if you are facing debt problems.

"Using an energy comparison tool like www.energyswitching.co.uk is simple and free to use. Our experience is that it could save you in excess of £30 per month if you haven’t switched."

Tags; Housing Debt and Bills,

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