The fear and despair in Bob Stevenson's voice is difficult to bear. The pensioner, who has seen his fuel bills almost quadruple in recent months, is scared.
Like so many around the country he admits he has no idea how he is going to survive the winter. He already goes to bed to keep warm during the day and has cut down on food.
After new estimates that energy bills could rise to more than £4,000 a year fears are growing about how people can afford to pay those higher costs. The UK Government has announced that every household in Wales, England, and Scotland will be getting a payment of £400. You can find out more about how that will be paid here.
Read more: Calls for benefits system in Wales to be simplified during cost of living crisis
In a stark interview with Radio 4's Today programme on Friday, July 29, Mr Stevenson, a pensioner from Birmingham, explained how much his bill has risen by. "It used to be £57 a month and now they want £207.96 a month," he said. "I spoke to other people about this and they couldn't believe it – they just couldn't believe it. I have just looked at the computer and put another reading in and now I owe them £420-something. How they have got to that I do not know.
"It is ridiculous. It is very worrying. My wife and I have been having arguments about the cost of living and I am constantly saying: 'Don't turn that on', 'don't turn the tap on' because we are on a meter and that is going up apparently."
Talking about the cutbacks they have made he said: "We used to go out and have a meal and have a drink but not now. We can't work extra hours, can't do none of that, what can you do? Not eat as much, I suppose, and cut right down and if they cut me off they cut me off. I don't know if they can. It is worrying me – it is making me bad.
"I had £346 two weeks ago and there is another £340 and something in October, which does help, but what will happen when it goes up again? It just seems to be that the government doesn't care. I just don't know what I am going to do.
"I am just going to have to put extra clothing on – it is as simple as that. I am disabled so have to spend a lot of time at home – I just go to bed. I go to bed during the day to keep warm."
New data has suggested that households could be spending £500 a month on their gas bills next year. Utility consultancy BFY Group published data expecting the cap on bills to reach £3,850 between January and April in 2023 – hundreds of pounds more than previous predictions.
Martin Lewis has already addressed his concerns following the Cornwall Insights prediction of £3,364 earlier this month however BFY's prediction has increased that again. The MoneySavingExpert founder said Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, and Boris Johnson must "urgently meet to come up with an action plan to urgently intervene in the disastrous predicted 77% energy price cap due October". He added: "This isn't the time for a flaccid [government]."
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