Pensioners to stay cold to save on utility bills
Old people are planning to save money on their utility bills by leaving the heating off this winter.
Five million over-65s are to forego heating their homes this winter in order to cut down the costs of utility bills, new research has revealed.Conducted by charity Age Concern, the survey found that 38 per cent of elderly homeowners will try to cut down on gas and 41 per cent will reduce electricity usage over the next few months amid fears utility bills will be too high.
With the recession showing signs of receding, the older generation are still feeling the pinch when it comes to heating their homes, which the charity blames on energy companies raising prices.
According to the Independent, the big six firms - EDF, E.ON, British Gas, Npower, ScottishPower and Scottish & Southern - are not passing on the effects of reduced wholesale costs to consumers.
The worry for the charity is that many pensioners will choose to risk their health over paying the higher sums for utility bills.
Stefano Gelmini, spokesman for Age Concern, told the newspaper: "If older people cut back on their heating during a colder winter this could raise the numbers affected by cold-related illness, which contributes to thousands of excess winter deaths of older people each year."
Consumers looking to save money on their utility bills may be interested to know that Scottish Power's new online energy tariff is currently a market-leading offer at less than £1,000 a year.
According to the firm, it is now the cheapest among the big six brands thanks to its Online Energy Saver 7 tariff, which will see utility bills cut to an average of £975 per year.
By Rosie May
© Copyright
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