A widow fought back tears as she described how she switches off her heating to save money with bills set to rise even further after changes in the energy price cap.
Rising costs are adding to the struggles of 62-year-old Gillian Fairbrass, who has only recently been able to walk again after being diagnosed with cancer in 2019.
Gillian is currently financially relying on her late husband's pensions to cope with day-to-day expenses, but says the rising costs are only going to make her dire situation worse, reports HullLive.
She said: "I cannot afford it heating, so I don't put it on. I sit in a dressing down to keep myself warm, sometimes I'll fill up a hot water bottle to put behind my back as well.
"It makes me emotional because people have to live and I don't know how I am going to be able to pay for anything. Having cancer damaged the nerves in my toes and I could not walk for a while, I only recently regained feeling in them and can walk on them.
"I'm nearly 63 and I should be able to have my heating on. When my husband passed, he thought the money would be enough for me, but it is not."
She added: "While us poor folks are struggling, someone else is out there getting richer, it's just not fair."
Energy regulator Ofgem said it was forced to increase the energy price cap to £1,971 for a typical household because of soaring global gas prices.
Bills are expected to rise by more than 50 per cent in April which amounts to a yearly average of £693. At the same time, inflation is set to exceed seven per cent.
The government has vowed to buffer some of the costs, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak announcing a £200 rebate on energy bills, which will have to be paid back over the next five years, and a £150 reduction in council tax for millions in England.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
