Caitlin Robinson, who studies energy and infrastructure-based inequality at the University of Bristol, says bills are still much higher than they were before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, leading to a spike in the cost of gas and electricity.
Dr Robinson says it can be “tricky to give advice” on lowering energy bills because most people are “sensible” and “savvy” anyway, especially if they’re on a low income.
Her research indicates that it’s not just low-income households that are making considerable cutbacks on their heating, as evidenced through the “record levels of energy debt” in Britain.
People struggling to pay their bills can experience heavy stress, Dr Robinson says.
Mental health can also suffer if people aren’t having people around to the house because they can’t heat it, leading them to become socially isolated.
Privacy, too, can be in short supply if families are only heating one or two rooms in a house and people have little space to themselves.
Gemma, who works from home, wears tights under her clothes and swears by her electric blanket.
“I can turn [the heating] on if I have to, but obviously there are loads of people who can’t, which is awful.”
