THOUSANDS of North-East pensioners will be left out in the cold this Easter due to a drastic rise in their energy bills, it has been claimed.
Energy company Powergen is increasing the cost of its Staywarm service, which offers the over-60s unlimited energy for a fixed annual charge, by nearly ten per cent.
In Darlington, the rise will mean the bills of an average elderly couple living in a two-room flat or house will rise by up to £52.50 per year.
The independent gas and electricity watchdog, Energywatch, is urging pensioners to shop around to ensure that they are not paying over the odds for their energy supply.
Director of Energywatch Carole Pitkeathley said: "How can Powergen justify yet another increase which affects the most vulnerable of customers, the elderly?
"Some pensioners will face much higher price increases than other Powergen customers on different schemes."
However, a spokesman for Powergen said it was not singling pensioners out and price rises were a result of "increased pressures on energy providers throughout the industry".
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