A CLACKS mother caring for her daughter with complex needs has seen her energy bills sky-rocket to an eye-watering £855 a month.

Tillicoultry's Carolynne Hunter fears her daughter Freya, who lives with severe cerebral palsy, could end up in hospital care if she cannot find the money to cover the annual bill of around £10,000.

Last week, the mother-of-four, who was already forking out around £300 a month, was told by ScottishPower about the extortionate rise in the wake of the increase in Ofgem's price cap.

The family have decided to keep the heating off in most of the house, only keeping Freya's room warm.

Numerous pieces of equipment are required to keep Freya comfortable with health and social care staff in and out of the house to look after the 12-year-old.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Freya, 12, lives with severe cerebral palsy and requires a range of equipment and more to keep her comfortable and as part of health interventions

And while the impact may lessen as the warmer months roll in, the family simply cannot reduce their energy usage in what is a larger, older and inefficient house.

Carolynne told the Advertiser: “Freya's situation isn't going to change; I'm always going to need to use the electricity and gas that I use for her.

“I've cut cut back completely for me and my older daughter Katie (18), who freeze at night and freeze through the day.”

It has become an undesirable existence and the desperate mother is hoping to find a more energy efficient home before she ends up in severe debt and potentially homeless.

“There needs to be some sort of action from government or local authority to assist not just me, but families who are relying upon it [energy] for survival”, she said.

“Some people could probably go without having heat like what me and my daughter Katie do.

“But Freya can't, it's as simple as that. Freya cannot go without having the heating on and without the baths that she has – that's all about her medical interventions.”

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Freya, 12, lives with severe cerebral palsy and requires a range of equipment and more to keep her comfortable and as part of health interventions

She argued authorities ought to contribute as part of a package of care in place.

Carolynne added: “If Freya wasn't here just now, she'd be in a hospital or a residential service, which would come out of the health budget.”

Clacks Council explained it has reassured Carolynne she will not become homeless.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Freya, 12, lives with severe cerebral palsy and requires a range of equipment and more to keep her comfortable and as part of health interventions

Cllr Les Sharp, the council's champion for carers, said: “The increases in fuel costs are affecting everyone, but for some these rising costs have the potential to be devastating.

“Our housing staff have been in touch with Carolynne to assure her that she will not lose her home and our energy advice team has made an appointment with her to offer advice and support on energy usage and tariffs.

“The Health and Social Care Partnership and Children's Services will continue to collaborate to take any mitigating actions which may support the family."

A ScottishPower spokesperson explained the company has been working with Carolynne over the last four years to offer support.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser: Freya, 12, lives with severe cerebral palsy and requires a range of equipment and more to keep her comfortable and as part of health interventions

The ScottishPower spokesperson added: “As she is on the standard variable tariff, we’ve notified her of the changes to her billing due to Ofgem’s price cap increase and her energy usage, which is high due to the size and style of her property.

“We fully appreciate her concerns about the changes in her billing; however, this reflects the volatility in the wholesale energy market and the unprecedented costs of buying energy at this time.”