Massive Energy Bills On The Way - What Happens If You Can't Pay?
The freezing weather of December and January has left a very large number of UK homeowners with sleepless nights. With heating systems running around the clock, they are living in fear of when the next round of utility bills bounces on their doormat. A recent survey has confirmed that around forty percent of the UK population are having serious problems facing the prospect of their gas and/or electricity bills being so high for this period and that they will be unable to meet them. Expectations are that the average energy bills for the two-month period will rise by at least a third.
This question is, in such an unprecedented situation where millions of UK householders are faced with such a problem, what can the authorities and the major energy suppliers do to ease the burdens?
British Gas has already announced that they will be willing to advise customers on issues such as how to extend their payment terms, as well as being able to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for further guidance.
According to a British Gas spokesperson any help that will be offered will be determined on an individual basis, with the elderly and the vulnerable liable to receive extra help, both from British Gas as well as the UK government.
Currently UK residents who are entitled to a pension credit or other benefits are entitled to a £25 cold weather payment towards their energy bills, with the only condition that have been seven consecutive days with the temperature forecast or recorded to be running on or below freezing point. With temperatures reaching minus 20° C in parts of Scotland, and with most of the UK enduring sub-zero temperatures for close to three weeks, it will be interesting to discover if the UK government will find a way to increase that subsidy.
For the future, consumers are advised to visit British Gas' website to learn more about improving energy efficiency in the home. Pensioners are also entitled to receive a winter fuel payment to help towards keeping warm. This can be between £125 and £400, depending on their situation.
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