A total of 8.4 million households will be in fuel poverty from April, campaigners have said. That number is up from 4.5 million last October.
National Energy Action (NEA) said the drop in Government support in April will mean one in three households will be in fuel poverty. A household is in fuel poverty if more than 10% of income has to spent on energy to keep it satisfactorily warm.
A survey for NEA found spiralling prices were already having an effect on energy usage for the majority of people. Over the next three months, 81% of householders said they would ration heating, 55% are reducing their use of hot water and 13% have reduced use of medical equipment.
Speaking ahead of Fuel Poverty Awareness Day on December 2, NEA chief executive Adam Scorer said: “This winter has already been bleak and next year is set to be even worse. With Government support being reduced and energy bills spiralling yet again in April, one in three households will be in fuel poverty.
"That means many of them will be forced to bed wearing coats, rationing showers and hot water, it means running up huge debts or self-disconnecting and going cold. Millions of the most vulnerable – carers, people with disabilities, those on low incomes and living in inefficient homes – are already bearing the brunt this winter."
According to NEA, 5.9 million low income and financially vulnerable households will be in fuel poverty from April, as well as 1.8 million carers, 3.6 million people with a disability and 1.6 million households in homes without a gas supply.
While the energy price guarantee will continue for another year from April, it will rise from £2,500 to £3,000 per year for the average household. Meanwhile, the £67 payments which make up the Government's £400 rebate to all households will end from March.
Mr Scorer said: "The situation will continue to get worse next year. The effects of this are devastating on both physical and mental health.
"Make no mistake, cold homes can kill. Government intervention must prioritise the most vulnerable in 2023 and beyond.”
