Rutland County Councillor Raymond Payne has urged Rutland residents to continue paying their energy bills, despite nationwide campaigns to cease payment in the hopes that it will force the increasing prices down.

Cllr Raymond Payne is the newest addition to Rutland County Council, having been elected in June 2022.

He and another Liberal Democrat Councillor, Joanna Burrows, have warned about the dangers of refusing to pay energy bills as prices soar this winter.

Cllr Raymond Payne said: "Some very dangerous advice is being put out concerning the non payment of energy bills.

"Both Joanna Burrows and I have been involved in Credit Unions and know how pressured people feel when threatened with large fuel bills. But ripping them up and ignoring them is a recipe for disaster."

The winter months are likely to see costs and usage increase further

With inflation rising to a 40-year high of 10.1%, a study undertaken by the University of York has estimated that up to 66.5% of families in the East Midlands could be facing fuel poverty by January 2023. This tops the nationwide figure of 65.8%.

As such, members of the general public have been rallying, with many campaigns on social media suggesting that people refuse to pay their energy bills until the prices drop.

However, Raymond Payne has highlighted the dangers of this, suggesting that if individuals do choose this course of action, they may well find Bailiffs on their doorstep, or be forced to install an expensive pre paid metre.

Cllr Payne added: "If people listen to the siren voices that are out there they could well find themselves waking up to the Bailiffs on the doorstep or being forced to install a pre payment metre, which is the most expensive way to pay for energy. We are all facing an uncertain future as far as fuel bills go, but listening to bad advice, no matter how attractive, will not help in the long run."

Instead, Raymond suggested communicating with your provider: "At all costs the lines of communication between the energy supplier and the client must be kept open. It is in the best interests of both parties to keep talking. Suppliers have a legal duty to offer help and advice to their customers who may be in difficulties, and it is in their own best interests."

Are you struggling? Do you intend to stop paying your bills, or is it simply too much of a risk?

Get in touch by emailing [email protected].