I'm terrified of soaring energy bills and fear I'll be sitting in the dark this winter | The Sun
MUM-OF-TWO Jo Gunn is terrified of soaring energy bills and fears her family will be sitting in the dark this winter.
Jo, who lives with her daughter, Lola, 23, and her son George, 21, has already seen her bills triple from £40 a month last summer to £120 today – now she fears she won't be able to cope this winter.
"Energy bills are going up again – we might have to keep the lights off and have candles by Christmas,” Jo said.
“I’m getting hot water bottles and blankets now so we don’t have to have the heating on this winter."
Jo pays for her bills on a pay-as-you-go basis with supplier E.on by topping up her prepayment meter.
She spoke to The Sun about about her concerns – as we demanded the Government regulator Ofgem and suppliers to do more to support prepayment meter customers.
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The 55-year-old from Brighton can’t work due to a painful back condition and claims benefits worth £866 a month – but says this barely covers her rent and bills.
She’s “dreading” the winter, when bills will soar – experts have predicted the average energy bill could rise to more than £3,600 from October.
But prepayment meter customers are likely to pay even more than this -the price cap set for these customers is set higher.
The price cap limits how much suppliers can charge customers for their energy.
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It currently stands at £1,971 for customers on standard variable tariffs, but is £46 more for prepayment customers £2,017 – but this is set to rise.
Energy regulator Ofgem will announce on August 26 how much the price cap will be this winter – the change will take effect on October 1.
And like many prepayment meter customers, Jo is petrified about the hikes.
She said: “I look at my energy app every day just to make sure there’s enough on my meter so I won’t get cut off.
"Already my electric keeps cutting out because the money on my meter is going so quickly."
Like millions of others, Jo will be able to get some help with her energy bills through the government's package of support.
But as some experts predict the price cap could hit £5,300 next year, it will not be enough.
An Eon spokesperson said: "We know these are difficult times for our customers and we’d urge anyone who is struggling to get in touch as there are ways we can help such as through our E.ON Next Energy Fund.
"We will also be issuing the £400 payment as part of the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme and our customers can find out more about how this payment will be sent to them here."
How to get help with your energy bills
There are help schemes you can apply to through your local council.
Welfare Assistance schemes help struggling families, and while help available varies, you can get free cash, food vouchers, and help for bills like rent and energy.
Another scheme you could tap into via your local council is the Household Support Fund.
The total amount of money invested into this pot of cash is £1.5billion since the scheme launched in October last year.
The fund is designed to help those in most need with payments towards the rising cost of food, energy, and water bills but help you can get varies.
Eligible residents in Norfolk can get £120 in food vouchers to cover meals for kids with the council's latest hand-out.
Energy suppliers offer cash grants to those hardest hit by bills rises.
For instance British Gas is giving out up to £750 through its hardship fund – and you don't even have to be a customer.
The amount you can get and eligibility criteria will vary though.
You can find free-to-use online benefits calculators to work out what you're entitled to.
Entitledto's free calculator works out whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credits and Universal Credit.
If you don't want to register, consumer group MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data that let you save your results without logging in.
Make sure you have key financial information to hand, such as bank and savings statements, and information on pensions and existing benefits.
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While one reader is living off bread and cold cups of tea because of spiralling bills.
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