Following today's energy cost announcement, people in one part of Merseyside have spoken about their fears.
Millions of households across the UK will see their gas and electricity bills jump by more than 50% in April after energy regulator Ofgem announced a record-breaking increase to its price cap.
We spoke to people in New Ferry, Wirral, about how these increases could affect their lives.
READ MORE: Liverpool weather: Met Office shares exact dates snow will hit UK in February
Nikolett Toth, 25, moved from Hungary to New Ferry four years ago and said the latest announcement has ‘scared’ her.
Talking to the ECHO, she said: “We just got our bill from our electric of £380. We live in a two bedroom flat with just the two of us.
“Even if we had the heating on more, which it was January so that is expected, even £150-190 seems so much a month.
“I don’t know how we will continue to afford to live if this was to be our bill all the time and then combined with all the other increases it's scaring us to death.”
Jane Ewing said: “How much more can working people cut back on their costs of living? We're just working to survive now while MP' s are on extortionate amounts of money. They want to try and live on next to nothing for a few months.”
Victoria Owen, who lives on Onslow Road, said she is "worried" as despite rising costs in living, her salary has remained the same for over two years.
She told the ECHO: "We are expected to find all this extra money from thin air.. I already work five and a half days as it is and I’m not getting any younger."
Amy Peirce said she and her partner both work full time, with her partner often having to work overtime, and with the rises they will "struggle".
She said: "My utility bills have almost doubled, just when we get used to our bills the government go and ruin us again."
Annette Finegan said she and her husband, who are both pensioners, have been "very worried" about their future.
She added: "We get no help with council tax or energy costs except for £200 winter payment. We definitely will be choosing between heating and eating as pensions are laughable low - not even minimum wage.
"Not what we were hoping for in retirement. We worked and paid into the system for a combined 100 years, surely we should have better treatment."
Chrissie Brie echoed Annette's point: "People shouldn’t have to choose between eating and heating. I think I’m more annoyed that the government has known about this for months and done nothing to prepare for it."
Jackie Mackay, 70, said her bills now cost more than her pension can cover, forcing her to return to work.
She added: "I have to work I got no choice I'll work till I drop which is what this government wants the sooner the better."
Jez Lamb, founder of the Wirral-based craft beer marketplace, Beers @ No.42, spoke about the impact the rise will have on small businesses.
He said: "Once again, households and small businesses have to take a seat on the see-saw of uncertainty.
"Energy prices rises, the soaring cost of living and interest rate increases are putting a phenomenal amount of pressure on us.
"As a small business, if we increase our prices to reflect the price rises we incur, we risk losing customers to the bigger businesses who can absorb the rises. If we don't put our prices up, our margins are squeezed even further, which means we struggle to be viable."
