Experts have warned that households in quarantine could be facing higher than normal energy bills.
The SNP has urged the UK Government to increase support for people struggling after research revealed the coronavirus pandemic could cost UK households a "staggering" £52m extra a week.
Wales Online reported that estimates, courtesy of uSwitch.com, say stay-at-home Brits could be in danger of adding an extra £16-a-month on energy.
The report estimates this works out to around £195 a year for individuals on poor-value energy deals.
Instead of being out at work between 8am and 6pm, huge numbers of people will instead be at home using energy to boil the kettle and use the TV as they struggle to keep kids entertained.
Home workers will also be hit as they keep their computers and laptops powered.
In response, the energy industry is now said to be in correspondence with the government to help households who have been affected by the coronavirus.
Energy expert Cordelia Samson at uSwitch said: “This is a hugely unsettling time for everyone, with many people staying at home who don’t normally, and some having to juggle looking after children at the same time.”
“People will be thinking about vulnerable friends and relatives, so the last thing on their minds will be their energy bill.”
SNP MP Drew Hendry, the party's shadow BEIS spokesperson, said: “Millions of people across the UK will rightly be following government advice to work from home and staying at home unless absolutely necessary.
“However, the impact of working from home and the hit to people’s pockets will undoubtedly add to the financial strain already being felt by the self-employed and other workers.
“It is vital that the UK government urgently introduces measures to support people and families – including through a package of financial measures for the self-employed, increasing UK Statutory Sick Pay to the EU national average, and strengthening welfare protections by increasing Child Benefit and making Universal Credit more flexible.
“This will be a difficult time for many across the UK and it is crucial that governments across the UK work together to support them through this unprecedented crisis.”
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