Households shiver through for fear of huge energy bills

MORE than 20 million UK households have gone without heating at some point over the winter fearing sky high energy bills, new research suggests.

Energy suppliers announced modest price cuts last month, but a 21 per cent hike last year has left millions of households rationing energy this winter, uSwitch.com found. It said 85 per cent were worried about their bill even though this winter has so far been less harsh than the previous two, with 83 per cent cutting down. Three quarters have gone without heating at some point, 5.3 million more than last winter.

Ann Robinson, at uSwitch.com, said: “If Britain isn’t to carry on freezing we need a helping hand. Government should look at making our gas and electricity exempt from VAT.”