Cost of heating a home rises by £230 in five years The average household energy bill - including heating, hot water and lighting - will stand at an "eye-watering" £1,334 a year by Christmas, research by Uswitch.com found. By December 7, five of the so-called "big six" providers - which include British Gas and Npower - will have increased their winter prices by an average of £90 or 7 per cent, adding an extra £40 to the average energy bill. Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at Uswitch.com, said: "Many consumers are fearful of how they will afford to keep warm during the winter months. Recent price hikes from energy suppliers will add £753 million onto energy bills. 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. Three-quarters of people went without heating at some point last year, and with price hikes pushing bills even higher this figure is likely to rise.