The predicted winter ‘white out’ and freezing temperatures could cost Brits over £1.2bn on energy bills.A report from comparethemarket.com stated gas bills are set to rise by 6.2% during the winter period.
Based on the
National Grid’s expected energy usage and current energy tariffs, British households are likely to see an annual average gas bill rise of £46 each. Meteorologists expect extreme weather conditions comparable to ‘The Big Freeze’ of the 2009/2010 winter.
James Padmore, head of energy at comparethemarket.com, said, “‘El Nino’ is set to cause a winter of financial discontent for British consumers. The increased use of gas to heat homes will put a large dent in consumer finances.
“The £46 that we calculate may be added to a household’s annual bill, as a result of increased energy usage during the severe winter, is a sum of money most people would prefer to spend on Christmas presents at this time of year.
“Furthermore, costs will be far higher than necessary for those households which have not actively sought out the best deals. Our latest data shows that the majority of consumers who switch energy provider save over £200 a year, which more than offsets the financial damage of the winter white-out.”
