A humiliated disabled dad has been reduced to asking strangers for donations to cover his soaring energy bills – or risk losing his specially adapted home.
Dave Davies, 39, was left paralysed after a diving accident when he was just 23.
But now fears he may lose his regained independence after his energy bill could more than double to £700 per month as the cost of living crisis deepens.
The dad of two from Ceredigion, mid Wales, broke his neck in 2006 and suffered a spinal cord injury which left him with neurological issues and means he can’t self regulate his body temperature.
He needs to keep his home heated to 24c – but the rising costs mean his heating bills may soon be more than his rent.
Now he has been forced to ask people he has never met to donate money to cover the costs.
Dave explained: “I need to keep my home warm or I will become unwell.
“I have is hypersensitive skin from nerve damage, so I cannot wear jumpers and I am topless in the house.
“Materials on my arms and neck feel like sandpaper.”
Dave described the rise in energy costs as ‘extortionate’ and said he is constantly worrying he may no longer be able to afford to heat his home.
He added: “With the price rise next month my estimate is £450 per month from spring, that’s more than double what I was paying last year.”
And with another increase expected in October, Dave believes his bill will eventually triple.
He said: “I’m facing a bill of up to £700 a month in the winter.
“That is more than my rent and I just don’t have that kind of money.”
After his accident Dave is unable to work and added: “I hate that I am completely reliant on benefits, I never wanted handouts but I am physically unable to work.
“I used to enjoy working hard and earning money.
“I wish I could go to work, bring in an income but that’s not possible.
“Having to ask strangers for help to cover my basic bills is humiliating – but the government have left me with no choice.”
Dave has so far been paying for the increase on credit cards.
He said: “My energy provider have offered me a fixed rate of £6,000 for the year. It’s terrifying.
“Previously my heating bill would vary between £100-£275 per month, depending on time of the year.
“I was paying around £3,000 a year – and now it’s likely to double.”
Dave is desperate not to lose his bungalow which has been his home for nearly 10 years after he spent 6 years in a care home.
Dave has a fundraising target of £12,500 – expected to cover just two years of energy bills if the prices continue to rise.
He said: “ I don’t think the government care. The rising costs are disgraceful and this is a desperate situation for myself – and many others.
“There’s a 54% rise in April and another rise expected in October. I’m genuinely terrified just how high will it go – what will people do?”
Dave added: “I just about get by at the moment because I don’t go out.
“I have no ways to ‘cut back’ because I do the bare minimum. I may have to sell my belongings to help pay and I have given up any hope of saving for a motorised wheelchair.
“I hope that by putting my embarrassment aside and speaking out, I can highlight just how devastating this energy price increase will be to thousands of us.
“I just don't know what else I can do.”
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