Many older people are continuing to brave cold winter months in homes they can't afford to heat.

New research by Canstar Blue suggests more than a quarter of New Zealanders can't afford to adequately heat their homes in winter.

Grey Power national president Terry King says it's a horrific result, and shows electricity is still too expensive.

"The continuing power [price] rises, although not as bad as ten years ago, is still not acceptable."

"If there is surplus electricity at the moment then prices should be coming down but in fact they're not."

Nearly a third of people in Otago and Wellington complain of homes being too cold or heating being unaffordable.

Heating was most affordable in Bay of Plenty, where more homes are insulated.