(Image: Daisy Daisy)
Millions of households are preparing to shiver through winter - and some are cutting back on heating altogether, with energy bills set to rise again in January.
Around 1.7million UK households say they will not turn on their heating at all this winter, according to new research by comparison and switching service Uswitch.com.
More than 15million homes - 52% of households - are worried about being cold over the coming months, while two in five (40%) say they will only put the heating on if they get too chilly.
The findings come after energy prices rose by 4%, or £60 a year, on October 1, taking the annual bill for a typical household on the price cap to £1,723.
A further increase of almost 22% is expected in January, according to the figures cited by Uswitch.
Nearly three in 10 households (29%) plan to heat only certain rooms, while almost one in five (18%) intend to wait longer before switching on their heating than they did last year.
A quarter (24%) also plan to set their thermostat below the recommended minimum of 18C.
Families resort to blankets and extra layers
For some households, the decision to keep the heating off is about cutting costs even when they could technically afford to turn it on.
More than a third (37%) of those planning to go without heating said they were choosing to cut back to save money, while 28% said rising energy bills had made heating unaffordable.
Half of those planning to leave their heating off said they would rely on alternatives such as extra layers, hot water bottles and heated blankets.
Almost one in five (19%) plan to use portable heaters, open fires or log burners instead. However, these alternatives can cost more to run than central heating when used to heat an entire home.
The research suggests people using prepayment meters are particularly worried, with 72% saying they fear being cold this winter – 20 percentage points above the UK average.
‘I won’t turn my heating on until December’
Emily Ahuja, 32, from Cirencester, Gloucestershire, plans to hold off turning on her central heating until December because of the cost.
She is relying on extra layers, draught excluders and higher-tog duvets to keep warm, while the family uses a small electric heater in the living room for an hour or two before bed to keep her 14-month-old daughter Esme warm.
Emily said: “I won’t turn my heating on until December when the temperature really starts to drop. I don’t want my baby to be cold, so if it’s really chilly we’ll use a small plug-in heater for an hour or two. The energy bill this year is already higher than it was last year.”
Households across the UK have faced years of near-continuous cost-of-living pressures 📈 Now, a new report by the Resolution Foundation has found that the cost-of-living crisis has caused real incomes to fall by almost 8%, leaving the typical family £2,900 worse off. One of the biggest culprits? Energy costs. Last year, our report found that energy bills had risen by 42% since 2021, while energy companies made £30 billion in profits in just one year 😳 And as soaring energy bills continue to fuel the crisis, millions of households have been forced to cut back on heating. Around 1.7 million families were unable to keep their homes warm enough in 2022/23 compared with the previous year. People are having to choose between heating their homes, buying food and paying the bills. So what’s the solution? Public ownership of utilities to put an end to profiteering and put people before profit 📣 #costofliving #bills #profiteering
— Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) October 8, 2026
Dave Jeffery, 68, from Northwich, Cheshire, is also delaying turning on his heating after discovering his 1870s home needs major repairs.
He said the cost of fixing the property had forced him to make difficult decisions about where his money goes.
Dave said: “A fault with the house needs major expenditure. People talk about food or heating, but I need the roof. The heating hasn’t been on yet, but we’ll layer up before we put any heat on.”
Dave Jeffery, 68, of Northwich, Cheshire, is holding off turning his heating on this winter after discovering his 1870s home needs major repairs, forcing him to make difficult choices. (Image: Uswitch)
Mandy De’Ath, 53, from Bexley in south-east London, plans to get through winter without turning on any heating at all. On the coldest nights, she stays at her mother's house.
Her ground-floor flat was built in the 1990s but has no central heating and almost no insulation, meaning warmth quickly escapes. She has insulated curtains and an electric blanket but says plug-in heaters are too expensive to run constantly.
Energy bills rise despite households using less
The figures come despite households using less energy overall.
Ofgem lowered its typical consumption estimates in July 2026, reflecting average annual use of around 2,500kWh of electricity and 9,500kWh of gas.
That is roughly 7% less electricity and 17% less gas than the previous estimates.
But lower consumption has not been enough to offset higher unit rates, leaving households still struggling with the cost of keeping warm.
I'm afraid that doesn't quite work, fixes and the price cap are different things. Fixes are limited offers based on todays rates. Price Cap is different. I'll try and keep this simple (it isnt) 1. Right now the cheapest fixes are only 1% below current cost (fixes in normal times are 10% cheaper) 2. The big 'benefit' of the Price Cap is it means prices rise slower, the pain is the fall slower too. Today's Price Cap is based on wholesale rates from mid May to mid August. The January Cap is based on rates today (mid Aug to mid Nov). So its price is time lagged 3. The prices you can fix at today, are based on current wholesale rates. Fix costs change by the day, there's no time lag. In fact the cheapest today cost more than the cheapest on Friday because wholesale rates are up 4. The whole point about fixing issuppliers can buy a tranche of energy at a set price, so they know their cost and know what they can charge, and how much they can put out at that rate. Once they sell that tranche to consumers they buy at a new price. 5. With variable costs, eg the Price Cap, suppliers have to hedge over future prices (Ofgem mandates them too) so that adds to the cost. I hope that explains it a bit.
— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) October 13, 2026
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, said: “It's alarming to see so many households already planning to go without heating this winter, before the coldest months have even arrived.
“Energy costs have just increased and are set to rise again in January, so this will be a tough winter for many – and it makes sense that many will be looking at ways to cut their energy usage.
“Despite higher energy costs, it’s really important that households don’t simply sit in the cold. In living spaces, healthy adults should aim for a minimum indoor temperature of 18°C (64.4°F), or 20°C for vulnerable groups such as infants and the elderly.
“Gadgets such as electric blankets and energy-efficient plug-in heaters can offer extra warmth to heat individuals and smaller spaces.
“If you’re currently on a standard variable tariff, you can act now to avoid upcoming rises by switching to a cheaper fixed deal.
“No one should be shivering in a cold home because they’re dreading the energy bill, so if you’re struggling, ask for help. Look into whether you're eligible for any grants or discounts too, from the Warm Home Discount to insulation support.”
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How to cut energy bills before winter
Uswitch is urging households to check whether they could save money by switching to a cheaper fixed energy tariff before the next expected price rise.
Households should also look into whether they qualify for grants or discounts, including the Warm Home Discount and insulation support.
Anyone who is older, disabled or has a health condition may also be able to join their energy supplier's Priority Services Register for additional support.
Households with smart meters can connect them to the free Uswitch app to track daily energy use and check for cheaper deals. The app also offers access to schemes such as Power Hours, which reward users for cutting their electricity use or moving it away from peak times.