Unaffordable energy bills - Brits 'go without heating'

New research from uSwitch.com suggests many people are going without, or at least rationing, heating, baths and hot showers to save on expensive energy bills, following price hikes over the last 12 months.

If you are keeping your use of heating to a minimum this winter, you're not alone. Almost nine in ten households (89%), or 23 million, will be rationing their energy consumption this winter because of expensive bills. That's four million more households than last year (an increase of 16%).

Around half of us (55%) kept the heating off at some point last winter and it's likely that more of us will be doing so this year.

People are worried about the cost of heating their homes following the 21%, or £224, average rise in energy bills over the last 12 months. More consumers are worried about this expense (90%) over and above mortgage payments (42%) and rising food costs (77%).

Nearly all households (93%) have taken a hit to their disposable income because of rising energy bills. 37% feel they've had a dramatic reduction in their disposable income, while nearly one in five (19%) have no disposable income left.

As a result of this, 'bill debt' is becoming more commonplace, as people borrow money to pay household bills. Just over one in three households (37%) has bill debts. Of those, 31% owe over £1,000.

A spokesperson for debt management company Gregory Pennington commented: "Rationing heating consumption is a fairly common practice. However, households that are borrowing money to pay essential household bills could be risking debt problems later on. If you're concerned about your level of debt, speak to a debt expert."