An increased number of people may soon be battling debt as it has been revealed energy bills are on the rise.

Research conducted by uSwitch.com found that individuals are currently spending, on average, £279 more on the costs than they were in 2008.

The hike means that a rise of 31 per cent has taken place over the last two years.

Consumers are being left with a £3.1 billion “hole in their pockets”, according to the price comparison service, despite cuts in payments administered in 2009.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at the website, explained that the reductions “will seem like a drop in the ocean to cash-strapped consumers, especially as most of the cuts this year came too late to help people with their winter bills”.

Last week, statistics released by Gocompare.com revealed that 43 per cent of people are paying too much for commodities such as electricity and gas.

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