Pensioner Rob Trewhella is just one of many people who say they can’t afford to put their heating on at all this winter as the punishing cost of electricity hits home
I’ve got a one-bed flat in Penzance which only has electricity, not gas. When I took it over the supplier wanted £125 a month. I said that’s ridiculous for a place this size, so got it down to £40. I don’t even turn on the immersion heater – if I need to wash up I just boil a kettle.
Last year I thought I would put the heating on, I’ve got a log effect electric fire. But if I had it on all day it would cost me a tenner.
I don’t plan to put the heating on at all this winter. Instead, I have a blanket on my sofa, I wear a chunky cardigan, and I change the summer duvet for a winter one. I also don’t want to put money into the pockets of the power companies. And I was brought up by my dad that, if there’s a light on, switch it off.
My income means I just about miss out on pension credit. I got the £250 winter fuel payment last year but now I won’t. It’s grim. There are so many people in the same situation.
My state pension is £221 a week. I know it is supposed to go up next April, but that won’t help with the winter energy bills.
I’ve spoken to nurses who have been down here on holiday and they are very concerned about the extra pressure on the NHS by doing away with this payment for so many people.
It’s got to the point where I’m even thinking of going off-grid: getting a van and building a cabin the woods. Then I would also save on council tax.