Millions plan to keep heating off over cost fears

MORE than two million households plan to avoid turning on their central heating this winter a 22% increase on last year for fear of soaring energy bills, a survey suggests.

- JOSIE CLARKE

Those who live alone are the most likely to avoid using the central heating, with one in 10 solo dwellers planning to find alternative methods to keep warm, according to the poll of 2,000 people for comparison site Uswitch.

One in 20 households with younger children (5%) say they will not be turning the heating on.

More than half of households (54%) who cannot afford to warm their home blame it on rising living costs.

Almost half of those not turning on their heating (45%) are relying on methods such as wearing extra layers, hot water bottles and heated blankets to keep warm.

A fifth (21%) are using alternatives to central heating including portable heaters, log burners and open fires.

However, more than three quarters of households (77%) are worried about being cold this winter due to high energy prices, with one in six (16%) being "very worried".

Two in five households (43%) will only turn the heating on if they are too cold, while three in 10 (30%) will only heat some rooms in their home.