'British Gas told me to pay more than £4,000 - I'm in a wheelchair and couldn't get to my meter for readings'

'It's cold... really cold', utters Katy as she picks up the phone in the days approaching December, the temperature starting to dip below freezing. But for her, frosty forecast don't just mean chilly fingers and toes - Katy's condition means it's imperative she must remain warm.

Katy Daly, 26, has cerebral palsy and is a full-time wheelchair user. Katy needs a number of adjustments to her Chorlton home requiring extra energy - her electric blanket, her electric hospital bed, a hoist. They're kept in use at all times to make sure Katy can live her life, but they comes at a price.

Soaring energy costs have affected many people living with disabilities and health conditions that require extra energy. The question of whether they can stand to leave the heating off for an hour or two can become life or death.

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Katy has witnessed first-hand how much money energy companies can demand. Earlier this year, Katy became unable to a reach her meter in an awkward spot outside her home, inaccessible to her with her wheelchair.

She says she reported her difficulties a number of times to British Gas and repeatedly explained she could not give the company any readings to make her bills accurate. Despite her attempts to resolve the problem, Katy ended up being put on a colossal '£709.23' monthly tariff in the summer.

Katy told the Manchester Evening News: "I was told that was the standard amount because I didn't give them a meter reading.

"[British Gas] wouldn't let me reduce [that direct debit] and wanted me to put it up to £4,709.23 to cover what it said I owed. I couldn't change the amount from the £709.23,