Cost of heating a home now more than 60% higher than in 2008

Prices have risen from £360 to £587 with average household energy bill now £1,334 a year

Nearly 20 million households went without heating at some point last winter to keep their energy costs down, says uSwitch.com, with 15% admitting it had affected their health.

Rising energy bills have resulted in 87% of households planning to ration their energy usage this winter, claims their report.

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com said: "It now costs households a staggering 63% more a year to heat their home than it did five years ago. This increase has knocked consumers for six, leaving many fearful of how they will afford to keep warm during the winter months and leading to growing numbers rationing their energy use even during the harshest weather.

"Recent price hikes from energy suppliers will add £753 million onto energy bills and push 314,000 households into fuel poverty. Many households will feel that they have little choice but to turn their heating down or off, and by doing so risk gambling with their health."