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Almost half (46%) of all British adults have identified energy bills as their biggest financial concern heading into this winter.
That figure jumps to 53% of people who live by themselves, with two-fifths of all Brits planning to turn the thermostat down this year to keep bills low, according to research published by personal finance comparison site finder.com.
Despite taking action to reduce their bills, just one in five people surveyed said that they plan to install a smart meter to help them monitor their energy use, and only 10% are planning to install additional insulation to their home to help reduce their energy usage.
Worryingly, those aged 74 and above are most likely to keep the heating off, with more than half of this age group planning to take this precaution throughout winter to keep their bills low.
A third (32%) of all UK adults said they will avoid turning the heating on when cold this winter.
Some 30% also said they would be reducing the time they spend in the shower, or the number of baths they have this winter.
Brits are also planning on stocking up on extra blankets and heaters to keep themselves warm at a lower cost, with just over a quarter of UK adults (26%) saying they will be doing this.
Commenting on the findings, Liz Edwards, editor-in-chief at personal finance comparison site finder.com, said: “Last year the UK government reported that an estimated 3.26 million households (13.4%) were in fuel poverty in England, so it’s no surprise that energy bills are at the forefront of Brits’ concerns heading into winter this year.
“The NHS recently advised that homes should be kept at a minimum temperature of 18C for people to stay safe this winter. However, our findings indicate that many will not be keeping to this, with almost a third of Brits not planning to turn their heating on when they’re cold this winter, to avoid high energy costs.
“This could have serious health implications for those who are more vulnerable to the cold.”
The government has not introduced any additional targeted support to help people pay their energy bills this winter, despite calls from charities and energy companies themselves.
The implications of a lack of financial aid for vulnerable customers were discussed by National Energy Action chief executive Adam Scorer in Utility Week’s latest digital edition, which is available here.
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