More than 1.7 million households in the UK do not plan to turn on their heating this winter, a survey reveals. This number has nearly doubled from last year’s figure of 972,000 households. According to the poll conducted by Uswitch, over half of those surveyed (55%) cited rising living costs as the reason for not heating their homes, while 25% of people over the age of 65 said they made this decision due to the loss of winter fuel payments.
An additional one million households intend to delay turning on their heating until December to keep costs down. On average, households are planning to switch on their heating on October 6, almost a week earlier than last year’s average date of October 12. However, almost six million people have already turned on their heating following a recent cold snap.
The survey indicates that households are aiming to set their thermostats at an average of 19.4°C this winter, slightly up from last year’s setting of 19.3°C. The Energy Saving Trust suggests that for every degree the thermostat is lowered, households can save up to 10% on their heating bills. It is advised not to set the temperature below 18°C to maintain a safe level of warmth.
Around 17% of households plan to set their thermostats below 18°C to save money, with 8% aiming for 17°C and 11% opting for 16°C or lower. However, almost four million households are planning to set their thermostats at 22°C or higher. Additionally, 43% of households will only heat up if they feel too cold, while 31% will choose to heat specific rooms, as per the poll findings.
Will Owen, an energy spokesman from Uswitch, expressed concern over the number of households planning to go without heating during winter due to financial difficulties. He emphasised the importance of maintaining a safe temperature at home to avoid health risks.
The survey, conducted by Opinium, gathered responses from 2,000 UK adults between September 6 and 10.