By Elliot Wright, 20th January 2010
Consumers could face energy bill misery if they are made to
cover the costs of a proposed multi-billion pound investment
package into Britain's electricity network, says switching service
uSwtich.com.
The energy watchdog, Ofgem, has published proposals for funding
a £233.5bn investment programme that is expected to add £548 a year
in total onto household energy bills. While the investment is
needed, consumers have been warned to brace themselves for the
eventual impact on their energy bills.
The site is telling consumers to start taking measures to reduce
their energy consumption such as by making homes more energy
efficient, using less energy and making sure their provider is
giving them good value for money.
Will Marples, energy expert at uSwitch.com, has warned
that ongoing trends coupled with this investment could see
household energy bills hit as high as £4,733 in ten years time if
consumers do not adapt.
Although admitting the chances of a £5,000 energy bill may
seem remote, Mr Marples pointed out that the average annual
household duel fuel bill has already leapt from £580 in 2004 to
£1,239 today.
He said: "This is a wake-up call for us all. We have
to remember that energy bills doubled in the last five years alone
and that the huge investment needed to keep the lights on in
Britain will alone add £548 a year onto our bills. The fact is we
are entering a new era of high cost energy and households will
have to adapt their behaviour accordingly."
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