THERE has been a dramatic rise in the number of people being plunged into energy poverty, sparking fears of a looming winter health crisis among the elderly and most vulnerable.

The relentless increase in the cost of heating homes as the mercury dips has seen energy debts surge by nearly one-quarter on last year, according to a new report seen by The Herald.

Now, leading charity Age Scotland is warning that energy price rises will have a serious impact on the health of elderly people as temperatures plummet, potentially leading to lengthy hospital stays and even death.

A spokesman for the organisation said: “There has been an increase in people dying as a result of falling temperatures.

“People can’t afford to heat their homes and this leads to a spike in hospital stays and deaths.”

Damning figures published yesterday by uSwitch showed fuel poverty is increasing across the UK.

It says debts are soaring because consumers are failing to move to cheaper energy suppliers as temperatures dip and bills begins to bite.

The group also said household energy debt had soared by 24 per cent compared to this time last year, while consumers owe £100 million more to their supplier than they did in 2016.

Age Scotland said its Money Matters project had also found 54.5 % of elderly people are particularly vulnerable to fuel cost increases, with 38% “squeezed” and 3% “struggling” with increasing bills.

Its research showed energy companies increased fuel prices between 4% and 9% this year, which it said could add “hundreds of pounds” to an individual’s person’s heating bills.

Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: “For thousands of older people on low and fixed incomes they will have real difficulty finding a way to clear their energy debt, as well as paying for their current use.

“Our own research has highlighted that four in 10 pensioner couples find it difficult to pay their energy bills and this rises to six in 10 pensioners who live alone. We can’t have a situation where older people feel that they can’t heat their own homes as it will have a serious impact on their health, where they are at more risk of contracting the flu and chest infections, which can lead to lengthy hospital stays and even death.”

He added: “The staggering number of extra deaths last winter have highlighted just how serious this can be.

“This year energy companies hiked their fuel prices between 4% and 9%, which could have added hundreds of pounds to a person’s household bills, especially during long, cold winters like the one we’ve had.

“And it becomes even harder for people living in rural and remote Scotland where fuel costs are higher.”

Baron George Foulkes, chairman of Age Scotland, said: “We are worried about old people dying because the forecasts say it’s going to be a bad winter.

“I have seen the number of people dying prematurely increase during particularly bad winters.

“Some older people, who are on the basic pension, are finding it much more difficult to make ends meet. Food and energy prices are going up.

“The Government has talked about capping energy prices, but it has not happened. All of the prices have gone up way ahead of the level of inflation.

“People have to make the choice between food or heating.

“Elderly people have the choice of saving a few pounds at the end of the week by turning the heating off. We are advising them not to do that and if they run into problems with heating, then we will try and see what can be done with our various services to help them. 

“We also advise people to check on their elderly neighbours who live alone and see if everything’s okay and if there’s anything they can do to help. Even cooking a little extra and taking it round to an elderly neighbour helps.”

The uSwitch report said some three million UK household bill payers, or 11 per cent, currently owe an average of £134 or a collective £400 million to their energy supplier at a time they would expect to be in credit.

The consumer group said overall debt was up by £75m on last year and the number of households owing money has increased by more than 300,000 (12%) since autumn last year.

More than one-third of bill payers, (36%), believe they used less energy this summer than in 2017.

However, the report suggests 41% are “already worrying” about their energy bills ahead of winter.

The higher levels of debt this year follow an unprecedented number of price hikes from large and small suppliers due to rising wholesale costs. Since January, 32 energy providers have announced 55 price rises, adding nearly £900m a year to domestic energy bills.

Craig Salter, energy spokesman for Citizens Advice Scotland, said: “This is evidence of the real impact on people’s lives of the inflation-busting price rises that we have seen over the past two years.

 “It is no surprise that this trend is pushing many of the most vulnerable in society into debt.

“Particularly for those who are already struggling, these price increases are making it even harder to make ends meet.

 “Energy suppliers must do more to support their customers and prevent them falling into debt.

“If prices are likely to rise, it is important that consumers are made aware as early as possible and are encouraged to shop around and switch to cheaper deals.”

In September energy regulator Ofgem said more than 11 million households would save a combined

£1 billion a year under plans to cap gas and electricity tariffs at £1,136.

A  typical customer, it said, would save around £75 a year on average, with others saving more than £120 a year when the cap is introduced.

Rik Smith, energy spokesman, uSwitch, however, urged customers to change suppliers and save up to £482 a year “much more” than the planned UK Government price cap can deliver.

He said: “The soaring number of households in debt to their energy supplier is a clear indication of the pressure people are under just to make ends meet.

“After so many price rises this year, a lot of people may have received a price rise notification over the summer but not switched to a cheaper deal.”

A spokesman for Energy UK said: “With wholesale costs having risen by at least 30% over the last year, suppliers across the market have been forced to raise prices.

“So customers should also check whether they are on the best deal – either with their own supplier or seeing what’s on offer from over 70 providers across the market – and consider whether to get a fixed-price deal, which will protect against further rises.”