LONDON

Millions of Britons with low incomes will be “severely affected” by a record 54% increase in their energy bills that will come into effect in April as announced by the government’s gas market regulators last week.

Speaking with some pensioners in north London, Anadolu Agency found they are extremely displeased with the move, with their bills set to further increase by around 12% before next winter.

Choosing between food and gas

George Staff, a pensioner who is feeling the squeeze with the latest energy price hikes, says many pensioners will have difficulties paying their gas bills.

The latest hike is “disgusting,” he said.

“I’m a state pensioner, and I don’t have any other income, so it’s going to affect me very harshly,” Staff told Anadolu Agency.

Staff said he receives a £200 ($271) yearly allowance to support his bills, but many others, including single parents, do not receive that allowance.

“People will suffer,” he said, adding they will be choosing between food and paying their bills.

“We don’t have a voice. They just do as they please, really,” Staff said, referring to the government.

“We are being severely affected by this. It’s a big hike; it is nearly £2,000 a year. I am on (a pension of) about £8,000 a year, so it leaves me with about £6,000.”

‘Astronomical’ rise

Hillary Oakes, a 66-year-old pensioner who lives in North London, says she lives “week to week” with the amount she receives as her pension, and “I don’t know how to cope with that,” describing the latest gas price hike as “astronomical.”

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Oakes said may pensioners will be affected by the rising prices if they do not have savings.

Oakes said she has medical conditions and the medications she is taking make her feel cold more and she needs heating more.

“I live on my own and I only live in one room at a time,” she said.

She said she used energy saving bulbs to save on her electricity bill as well.

“I try to be careful with it, but I can’t freeze.”

Pointing out that a lot of pensioners would get into debt over the energy price hike, Oakes said she “would try my best to pay, but I may not be able to pay all of it in one go.”

‘People are drowning’

Maria Michael, who has a disability but is also caring for vulnerable people, said “she nearly had a heart attack” when she heard the news about the 54% hike in gas prices.

“I can’t believe what’s going on because I can’t even afford to live each day,” Michael said.

“We have individual children with special needs who need looking after without support already, and now they put more burden, more pressure on us,” she said.

“How can they push the prices up after all we’ve gone through in the last three years?” said Michael, referring to financial losses during the coronavirus pandemic.

She said the worsening financial situation is pushing people into depression.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do, but maybe the government might do a big funding charity so that they can support vulnerable people, so we don’t sink.”

“They need to realize that people are drowning,” she added.

Latest price hike

It is now £693 ($938) more expensive per year to keep their homes warm for millions of Britons, according to a new gas price cap announced last week by the country’s energy regulator.

The new yearly cap will go up to £1,971 ($2,666) per year from April 1, with a 54% rise, said the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem).

Millions of households with lower incomes are expected to struggle with the latest rise, the second major hike in months, amid a rise in the cost of living, despite a £200 one-off support from the government toward their bills and a £150 ($203) reduction in council tax bills.

The gas prices are subject to a further rise of 12% in October.