This somewhat soggy summer will soon be at an end, and when it is, British households will find themselves reaching for the thermostat.
It is true that energy costs have fallen from their peak earlier this year, and current predictions from analyst Cornwall Insight indicate the average household will pay £1,959 a year for their power bills. But for Juliette Morgan, that amount would not even last her two months.
When Ms Morgan bought her house in Somerset three years ago, she was pleased that it ran using only renewable energy thanks to her electric boiler – unlike neighbouring properties which still use heating oil, which the Government hopes to start phasing out from 2026.
But supposedly greener energy comes at a price, and in winter Ms Morgan’s heating bill sets her back £1,000 a month. The consultant’s home is made with stone walls and floors, which can take a long time to heat, and are notoriously expensive to insulate further.
“I thought I was doing the right thing using renewables, but the winter energy bill is really high,” she says. “I suspect I need to change the windows and doors and install solar panels but am wondering where to start and how to fund it.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ms Morgan’s home has one of the worst energy ratings possible, with an F-rated energy performance certificate (EPC) – just one band below the lowest rank. But the potentially astronomical upfront cost of the renovations needed to bring her energy rating up and bills down is daunting, especially since Ms Morgan is single.
“It feels like I’m stuck between high energy bills or high finance costs, which are prohibitive for single people,” says Ms Morgan. “I suspect I’ll have to end up replacing the windows and look at replacing the boiler but that lot together is about £45,000 and financing that on my own in this economy is a lot.”