READERS have had their say after a potential rise in energy bills to more than £4,000 a year has been labelled as 'disastrous' by a leading Cumbria councillor.

According to consultancy Cornwall Insight, bills could rocket to £4,266 from January.

It would mean that the average household would be paying £355 a month - more than double the average of £164 a month currently.

Cornwall Insight cited Ofgem's decision to change the price cap to every three months instead of six and higher wholesale prices as the basis for its forecast.

Peter Thornton, the member for finance at Cumbria County Council, said it would lead to major problems.

"The forecast would mean everyone is going to have to find three thousand pounds more in the next year," he said.

"It is disastrous. There are people that can find two or three thousand pounds and there are people who cannot.”

Barrow Lad said: “Certainly is disastrous. That's just an average user. Around £350 per month so its £500 a month in Winter months and maybe £200 in Summer months. So during Winter you are facing around £120 a week usage which terrible for people on low income. How some families are going to cope is beyond me.”

Louisquatorze said: “Thank goodness we have a functioning government which is completely behind the working people of the country... Oh, wait.”

Brian Mckenna said: “Well which ever politicians will get this under control and bring back reasonable prices will get everyone s vote right now Lib Democrat seem the have the best plan.”

Paul Griffiths said: “The TUC have explained that buying out the big five energy retailers would cost the Govt around £2.8bn.

“That’s a similar amount to what the Tory Govt will end up paying to bail out just one, Bulb, using taxpayers money! #nationalise.”

Brian Mckenna said: “France’s energy is state owned and has only gone up four per cent , think it’s about time we did the same.”

Simon Burns said: “I just can't seeing it being that cheap to nationalise the big five energy companies... When Royal Mail was privatised its value was 3.3 billion pounds.. I would think the energy companies would be worth billions upon billions more than Royal Mail..”

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