An energy company in Britain has felt compelled to apologize to its customers after publishing a blog post in which it advised Brits to exercise, cuddle pets and to keep the oven door open after cooking to stay warm this winter as the country faces ever-rising energy bills.
Ovo Energy, Britain’s third-largest energy supplier, said it was “embarrassed” by the blog which was sent to its customers under the guise of helpful “energy-saving tips,” but later accepted its content was “poorly judged and unhelpful.”
As Brits experience a concerning rise in the cost of living, attributable not least to the skyrocketing price of energy which has seen a number of energy companies fold in the past year, Ovo Energy suggested that rather than turning on the heating, Brits could simply wrap up warm or eat porridge as an alternative.
Other tips included “challenging the kids to a hula-hoop competition” and “cleaning the house.”
“Open your curtains when it’s sunny to warm your home naturally” was another suggestion put forward by the energy supplier.
Chairman of the Business Select Committee Darren Jones, a Labour MP, branded Ovo Energy’s tips “offensive,” adding in a social media post: “I’m 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’t afford it.”
The energy company has since apologized for the ill-judged blog post in a statement which read: “We understand how difficult the situation will be for many of our customers this year.
“We are working hard to find meaningful solutions as we approach this energy crisis, and we recognize that the content of this blog was poorly judged and unhelpful. We are embarrassed and sincerely apologize.”
The blog post has since been taken down.
Global gas prices have already seen household bills in the United Kingdom increase drastically in the last 12 months, and with the price cap, which limits the amount energy suppliers can charge, set to rise in April, bills are expected to increase further still.
