Government ‘needs to help people cut their energy bills’

The government needs to help people use less energy in their homes so they can bring down their bills, it has been claimed.

The Energy Saving Trust has said although the average cost of an annual dual-fuel bill is expected to fall from £2,074 to £1,823 in October, this is still high and it could go up again over the winter.

What the government needs to do

The independent organisation – set up in response to the climate emergency – has outlined the steps it thinks the government should take.

They include:

• a national refit programme for homes to improve their energy efficiency
• helping people use less energy at peak times

Chief executive Mike Thornton said:

“The onus isn’t on households, it’s on government to shift the emphasis towards reducing energy demand, how much energy people are using, and when they are using it.”

If you’re keen to cut your costs, we’ve got some energy-saving tips you might find useful.

More people seeking help with energy-bill debt

The call from the Energy Saving Trust comes as figures from Citizens Advice show the number of people contacting them for advice about energy-bill debt is on the rise.

In the first six months of the year, 46,431 people got in touch with the charity about falling behind with their payments. This is up 17% on the same period in 2022.

On average, the people contacting Citizens Advice were £1,711 behind with their bills. This is a rise of a third compared to 2019.

Need help with your energy bill?

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bill, the first thing you should do is speak to your supplier. Quite a few providers offer grants to customers in need. Find out more about the financial support available. 

Debt help

And if you need advice on how to deal with your debts, we’re always happy to help. You can get advice online or over the phone.