People who are sick and vulnerable need to let their energy providers know.
That's according to Saint Vincent De Paul who say the cold weather means people are choosing between heating their homes or feeding themselves this year.
The charity expect to reach a peak of 1,400 calls per week in December as people in Cork are reaching out to them as they struggle to cope with energy costs, increased prices for fuel and dramatic rises in the price of food.
The charity also say that the most significant increase in calls this year is coming from lower-income earners in full time employment.
Speaking to RedFM News, Regional Co-Ordinator St Vincent De Paul, Jerry Garvey says people with acute needs shouldn't have to make sacrifices:
"Sadly, we've had quite a few cases of people taking it to extremes. We had one elderly person who was on an oxygen machine, which is an essential piece of equipment, and she was actually rationing for electricity using the oxygen machine and turning it off more than she should, which is actually risking her life and her health just because she was afraid of not being able to pay the bill. Anyone with acute needs, that would be considered vulnerable, should let their electricity or their utility supplier know that and they would be put down on a "Specially Vulnerable Lists" and they wouldn't be cut off in the event of arrears".
