Residents in over 55s block in Sussex shocked at 100% increase for fixed price heating bills
ITV Meridian reporter Tom Saviddes has been speaking to residents in St Leonards who are worried about the sharp increase in gas and electricity
The residents of a block of flats in St Leonards in Sussex say they have been left in shock after their heating bills went up by 100%.
The company running the site has sent out invoices showing the fixed weekly charge for gas has doubled, but many residents told ITV News Meridian they can't afford the increase.
Those who live in Wyvern House in St Leonards are over 55; some are pensioners, while others on universal credit.
For many residents, money is tight due to the cost of living and now, they've been told each flat's gas bill has risen by 100%
Last year a two bedroom flat had to contribute £21 per week towards gas and this year it has almost doubled to £39.
The site has a fixed price for residents whether they use their heating or not. Places for People, which runs Wyvern House, describes itself as the UK’s leading social enterprise.
In a statement they've said: "We understand and empathise with the concerns of our customers at Wyvern House, and of course apologise for any upset this has caused.“Due to a long-term fixed tariff we had in place, we had been able to keep energy costs for these customers lower in recent years - the lowest contracted price in the country - while bills across the country rose exponentially.
"That tariff expired in October, so rises this year were inevitable as we move more in line with current prices."When we set budgets for utility charges, we have to estimate the usage based on the data available at the time.
"However, we always review this estimated charge once we have the full picture, and this planned review has enabled us to recalculate the estimates across this communal scheme and others, and for customers at Wyvern House, it will mean charges lowering significantly from their current rate."We’ll contact customers directly to advise what the change is for them in the coming days.
"Any money already paid will of course be factored into future payments. In the meantime, we’ll continue to offer tailored support to anyone struggling to meet costs, and have a range of financial support schemes available to help, including a dedicated Money Advice Team.”
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