Consumers in Wales falling into debt due to cost of utilities
Recent figures and data have shown that many consumers in Wales are now falling into debt simply in order to keep their homes warm over the winter period. The rising cost of energy prices means that these consumers are being hit with massive bills stemming from the use of gas and electricity in order to warm their homes over the colder season. The rises in gas and electricity prices over recent years has left Welsh consumers with extortionate bills to deal with for the privilege of having a warmer home.
According to data that was recently releases consumers in Wales are now paying almost double what they were paying three years ago for their gas, with a rise of around ninety five percent. Data also indicates that Welsh consumers are paying more for their electricity that the rest of the UK, with figures indicating that they could be paying almost ten and a half percent more for electricity than consumers in the rest of the UK. The data comes from the Welsh Consumer Council.
One MP stated: "Energy bills have risen so fast in recent years that more and more people in Wales are finding it very difficult to pay them. The latest estimate for average annual household energy bills is over £1,000 and rising. This will push 300,000 households in Wales to live in fuel poverty this winter - that's one in four households in Wales and more than double the number in 2004."
She continued: "Clearly, fuel poverty is no longer exclusive to low income and pensioner households; it has spread to middle income earners and other vulnerable groups in Wales." Around eleven percent of households in Wales are now thought to be struggling when it comes to affordability of utilities such as gas and electricity.
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