MARTIN Lewis has warned that the huge rise in energy bills will mean that some Brits will “starve or freeze”.
Energy bills will soar by £693 a year from April and are expected to rise even further later this year.
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The founder of MoneySavingExpert said the average bill could hit £3,000 when the energy price cap jumps in October.
Suppliers have hiked prices due to rising wholesale gas costs, which surged last year and are being pushed even higher by the war in Ukraine.
More than 30 energy firms have gone bust since the beginning of 2021, pushing millions of consumers off their cheap fixed deals.
Those customers are now on their suppliers’ standard variable tariff, which is going to rise by almost £700 in April.
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Households can’t switch to a cheaper deal as all fixed tariffs are much more expensive than the price cap.
Martin said the government’s first priority must be “those people who will simply starve or freeze because of this. And that is not exaggeration”.
In an interview with The Guardian he said: “I think people are going to feel worse than they have for a long time this year. When your energy bill comes in and it’s £3,000 for a year instead of £800, nobody feels good.”
What help is available?
If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, there is help available.
The government has already announced a £200 rebate, but that will have to be paid back eventually.
You’ll also get a £150 council tax refund.
Check that you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to by using an online benefits calculator.
One MoneySavingExpert fan found out she was eligible for a £3,700 a year payment.
If you’re worried about falling behind on your payments, let your supplier know as soon as possible.
Some firms have hardship funds for customers, such as British Gas and Octopus.
You might be able to get a grant from the Household Support Fund.
Local councils are handing out the money and you can search for yours using the search tool on gov.uk – just enter your postcode.
However, some schemes have already closed ahead of the March 31 deadline.
But local councils also offer welfare assistance schemes all year round that can help you with bills, so check what’s available.
Turn2Us has a free grants search tool where you can find out what other help is available to you.
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