Rising bills left one disabled woman unable to shower regularly.
Anne Vivian-Smith, 51, of Nottingham, says energy hikes have plunged her and other disabled people into debt.
Anne has a neurodegenerative condition, which runs in her family.
As a result she has high gas and electricity bills to keep her warm and power equipment like a chair, ceiling hoist, adjustable bed and a powered door.
She explains: “There isn’t anything to cut back on. I can’t cut back on my wheelchair or hoists.”
In cooler weather periods, she says: “We are in a situation where I have to sit in a cold room, and I shower when I visit a hydrotherapy pool to save money.”
Before the pandemic, Anne and her husband Dave, who is her full-time carer, paid £82 a month for gas and electricity. In January this amount hit £145.
Her energy firm has told her to expect further increases.
“Almost an extra £70 a month for energy, the money isn’t there,” she says. “We’re already bouncing debt around… That house of cards is not sustainable.”
