Energy firm apologises after telling customers to ‘cuddle pets’ to keep warm

Tips condemned as ‘offensive’

Ovo Energy has apologised after suggesting customers cuddle pets for warmth (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Wire)

Britain’s third-largest energy supplier has apologised after it advised customers to “have a cuddle with your pets” to stay warm and save on heating bills.

According to the Financial Times, Ovo Energy last week emailed customers a list of 10 “simple and cost-effective ways to keep warm this winter”.

As well as cuddling pets for warmth, other tips included “challenging the kids to a hula hoop competition”, “doing star jumps”, and “cleaning the house”.

It came as Britain’s cost-of-living crisis is expected to worsen.

I'm not sure who signed off a marketing campaign telling people to wear a jumper and eat porridge instead of turning on the heating if you can't afford it

Business Select Committee chairman Darren Jones

According to some predictions, energy bills could rise by more than 5 per cent in April for millions of households that are on a standard tariff.

Bristol North West MP and chairman of the Business Select Committee Darren Jones branded Ovo Energy’s tips “offensive” and called on the company to apologise.

In a subsequent tweet, he wrote: “I’m not sure who signed off a marketing campaign telling people to wear a jumper and eat porridge instead of turning on the heating if you can’t afford it.”

Ovo has since apologised for the tips, telling the FT: “We understand how difficult the situation will be for many of our customers this year.

“We are working hard to find meaningful solutions as we approach this energy crisis, and we recognise that the content of this blog was poorly judged and unhelpful. We are embarrassed and sincerely apologise.”

Customers were told to have ‘a cuddle with your pets and loved ones to help stay cosy’ (Joe Giddens/PA) (PA Archive)

In April, the price cap, which limits the amounts energy suppliers can charge, will rise.

It is already at a record £1,277, but analysts at Investec think it could go up to £1,995.

The increases are due to a major spike in global gas prices, which have been pushed up by high demand around the world.

Trade body Energy UK’s chief executive, Emma Pinchbeck, said last month that the Government could cut each household bill by £90 by slashing taxes or VAT.

Meanwhile, bills could be cut by a further £190 by bringing forward proposals on removing policy costs.