THE average Ryedale household is paying almost twice as much as last winter to fuel their home, new figures suggest.
National Energy Action said the situation will continue to deteriorate this year as customers face spiralling energy bills when the Government's Energy Price Guarantee – which means bills for a typical household are currently capped at £2,500 per year – rises in April.
The latest figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy show the average Ryedale household consumed 11,208 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of gas and 2,875 kWh of electricity in 2021.
One kWh would run an average oven for around 30 minutes, while the median has been used to exclude extreme values which could skew the average.
At the current charging rates capped by the Government, it means the average household on a variable tariff continuing to use the same amount of energy as in 2021 would be paying around £2,368 per year to run their home.
Based on prices last winter, the average Ryedale household would have had an annual spend of approximately £1,238 for the same amount of energy – just over half as much.
Households on a fixed tariff will pay for energy at their current rate until the term comes to an end.
Situation could worsen
Adam Scorer, chief executive of National Energy Action, said the situation could worsen this year following the end of the current Energy Price Guarantee, claiming one in three households will be in fuel poverty.
Mr Scorer said this means people "will be forced to bed wearing coats, ration showers and hot water, run up huge debts or self-disconnect and go cold.”
He called on government intervention to "prioritise the most vulnerable in 2023 and beyond."
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Energy consultancy firm Cornwall Insights predicts the price cap regulated by Ofgem will sit at approximately £3,500 between April and June – though the typical household will be charged £3,000 at most during this period under the Government's Energy Price Guarantee.
The energy price cap is then expected to drop below Government support levels in July – Cornwall forecasts that energy bills will be around £2,800 for the average household in the final two quarters of 2023.
Kevin Hollinrake MP
Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, said: “I completely understand the concern among Ryedale residents regarding energy prices.
“Constituents will know that after the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europe has endured unprecedented pressures on living costs.
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“The Government took steps to help the lowest-income households: reducing the Universal Credit taper rate; increasing the National Living Wage; freezing fuel duty for the twelfth consecutive year; launching a £500 million Household Support Fund and introducing an Energy Price Guarantee among many other measures.
“There are certainly signs things are calming down, such as the news the wholesale cost of gas has fallen to levels last seen before Russia invaded Ukraine last year.
“I will continue to support constituents and local business in every way I can, in both my role as constituency MP and BEIS Minister.”
Cost of living crisis: How is it impacting you? Share your stories with us
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