Winter Worries: A Family’s Struggle with Rising Energy Bills
As the winter season approaches, the Smith family from Rugby is feeling the pinch of rising energy bills. Nurse Laura Smith, along with her husband Neil and their two autistic children, is facing constant stress due to the increasing cost of living. Laura, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), spends a lot of time in the hospital, which limits her working hours and earnings. This has led the family to make cutbacks and dip into their overdraft to make ends meet.
The family is doing everything they can to save money, including making cutbacks on meals and regularly having soup for dinner. However, their biggest concern is the rising energy costs. Laura emphasizes that heating is a necessity for her, especially during the winter, as the cold can worsen her symptoms. She explains, “Having the heating on during the winter is a total non-negotiable for me. If I get too cold, I can get ill. My symptoms get so bad that I can’t move and am at a much higher risk of falling. But we’re still having to be more frugal. We put the heating on at a different temperature now and will put blankets on instead.”
Despite their efforts to manage their expenses, Laura expresses her concern about the future, saying, “I’m trying not to panic, but we are not managing. I don’t know how this is going to resolve itself.”
The Smiths’ situation has caught the attention of disability charity Sense, which is advocating for a social tariff on energy to assist people through the winter. Sense is urging the government to introduce a discounted social energy tariff to support disabled households struggling with energy bills.
Richard Kramer, Chief Executive of Sense, highlights the urgency of the situation, stating, “It’s a desperate situation. Disabled people are being hit the hardest by the cost-of-living crisis. They are being forced to switch off their heating, or leave their homes to find a warm space in the community. The government cannot sit back and watch for a second winter, as more disabled people are forced into debt and ill-health.”
Rugby MP Mark Pawsey, a member of Parliament’s Energy and Net Zero Select Committee, acknowledges the need for a tariff to support the most vulnerable. He comments, “The Government are consulting with the sector on reforming energy bills, and I will continue to work closely with my colleagues in Parliament to ensure the right support is provided to families such as the Smiths.”
For more information about the Household Support Fund in Warwickshire, visit [Household Support Fund](https://tinyurl.com/558jxvph).
To find a list of Warm Hubs in Rugby, visit [Warm Hubs in Rugby](https://tinyurl.com/5n87v3k9).