Millions of Britons did not switch on their heating during cold snaps last winter in an attempt to save on their energy bills as the cost of gas and electricity soared.
Almost nine in 10 households tried to cut back on their energy usage last winter, while almost half of all British households, or 13m homes, said they did not turn on their heating when it got cold, according to a survey of 4,000 people by the consumer group Which?.
The findings revealed that lower-income households and those aged between 45 and 64 years old were more likely to go without winter heating, fuelling calls for the government to introduce a discounted “social energy tariff” for vulnerable households.
The increase in gas prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced the UK government to intervene to subsidise the cost of household energy bills, which remained well above pre-energy crisis levels, and belatedly launch an advertising campaign encouraging consumers to reduce their usage.
Emily Seymour, the Which? energy editor, said: “It’s hugely concerning that an estimated 13 million households have not switched the heating on when it’s cold due to fears of high energy bills.”
About half of households with an annual income of less than £20,000 did not turn the heating on when it was cold, compared with a third of households with an income of more than £80,000, according to the survey.
In addition, those aged between 45 and 64 were also found to be more likely than other age groups to go without heating during cold weather, in part because this age group was “likely to have more financial responsibilities” but was not yet eligible to access pension savings, Which? said.
The survey also found that members of more than half of households wore extra layers at home, while four in 10 said they reduced how often they used the oven. A third cut the number of baths or length of showers they took.
“The government and energy firms need to act now to help those most in need make ends meet over the winter. The government must introduce a properly targeted social tariff as soon as possible, and energy firms must ensure that their customer services are equipped to properly support customers over the winter,” Seymour added.
The fresh calls for a social tariff have emerged as Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, prepares to announce the latest price cap on Friday, which will come into effect from October. The cap is expected to fall below an average of £2,000 a year for the typical household, which remains almost double the level before the energy crisis began.
Consumer groups have argued that although the cap aims to set a fair rate for household energy bills, it is still unaffordable for low-income households. Instead, they argue that ministers should legislate a social tariff, set well below the cost of supplying gas and electricity, for households in fuel poverty.
The government has been accused of betraying the most vulnerable in society by failing to introduce a social tariff despite repeated pledges in the last year to consult on proposals to put one in place by April 2024.
The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, promised to consider a social tariff for energy bills in the autumn statement last year as part of a pledge to help vulnerable people.
In the spring statement earlier this year, the Treasury confirmed that the government was “developing a new approach” to protect households, including the consideration of a social tariff.
