One in three households opts to shiver and save cash

SKY-high energy bills are forcing thousands of Scots to slash their household budgets to keep the lights and heating on.

More than two-thirds of households have been forced to cut back on food bills and holidays to meet the spiralling cost of heating, which is hugely reducing families’ disposable incomes.

A new poll has found more than a third of us were forced to turn our heating off over the winter, with many, including the elderly, left shivering in cold homes.

Last month it emerged people were wearing coats and hats indoors, wrapping themselves in blankets and even leaving the oven door open to keep warm and save

‘These bills can

be scary’

money. The latest survey of Scots households, by the One Big Switch consumer group, comes amid a fuel poverty crisis, with 360,000 households spending more than 10 per cent of their income on energy bills.

Michael Stewart, director of the group’s Big Energy Switch campaign to cut the cost of electricity and gas, said: ‘There is something wrong when a basic cost such as your heating bill is so much that people can’t afford to be comfortable at night.

‘Scottish energy prices have risen nearly four times faster than household incomes since 2003 and these survey results give evidence to the pressure these rises have put on Scottish families.

‘The first thing we can do to help these people is ensure they’re not paying more for their energy than they have to.’

The study of almost 5,000 households found seven in 10 Scots are making lifestyle sacrifices to afford their energy bills.

Half of this number are sacrificing the heating itself, to the point where they describe being ‘uncomfortable’ at home.

Elizabeth McCreath, 74, from Garrowhill, Glasgow, said: ‘It feels as if our heating bills are spiralling out of control. We are retired and in the house during the day, and these bills can be scary.’

The retired secretary, who lives with husband Robert and can pay more than £100 a month on energy, added: ‘We haven’t been on a holiday for several years, in part because of money. I am careful not to use the car unless I really need to and use my bus pass instead.

‘I looked at switching company, but the bills are so complicated it was impossible to tell which was cheaper. I gave up.’

The Big Energy Switch campaign aims to use the enormous buying power of 20,000 Scottish households to obtain group discounts on energy bills. Mr Stewart said: ‘I’d encourage everyone to join me in Scotland’s latest people power campaign.’