Britain鈥檚 third largest energy supplier has apologised after it advised customers to 鈥渉ave a cuddle with your pets鈥 to stay warm and save on heating bills.
According to the Financial Times , Bristol-based Ovo Energy last week emailed customers a list of 10 鈥渟imple and cost-effective ways to keep warm this winter鈥.
As well as cuddling pets for warmth, other tips included 鈥渃hallenging the kids to a hula hoop competition鈥, 鈥渄oing star jumps鈥, and 鈥渃leaning the house鈥.
It came as Britain鈥檚 cost-of-living crisis is expected to worsen. According to some predictions, energy bills could rise by more than 50% in April for millions of households that are on a standard tariff.
Bristol North West MP and chairman of the Business Select Committee Darren Jones branded Ovo Energy鈥檚 tips 鈥渙ffensive鈥 and called on the company to apologise.
In a subsequent tweet, he wrote: 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure who signed off a marketing campaign telling people to wear a jumper and eat porridge instead of turning on the heating if you can鈥檛 afford it.鈥
Ovo has since apologised for the tips. A spokesperson said: 鈥淲e understand how difficult the situation will be for many of our customers this year.
鈥淲e are working hard to find meaningful solutions as we approach this energy crisis, and we recognise that the content of this blog was poorly judged and unhelpful. We are embarrassed and sincerely apologise.鈥
In April, the price cap, which limits the amounts energy suppliers can charge, will rise. It is already at a record 拢1,277, but analysts at Investec think it could go up to 拢1,995.
The increases are due to a major spike in global gas prices, which have been pushed up by high demand around the world - and led swathes of smaller energy suppliers to collapse in 2021.
Trade body Energy 海角视频鈥檚 chief executive, Emma Pinchbeck, said last month that the Government could cut each household bill by 拢90 by slashing taxes or VAT.
Meanwhile, bills could be cut by a further 拢190 by bringing forward proposals on removing policy costs.
