One in four worried about rising energy costs this winter

One in four (25%) of us won’t be able to afford to heat our homes this winter because of rising energy costs, new research from Citizens Advice finds.

This increases to a third of households with children (31%) and 39% of those on a low income.

Impossible choices and drastic cutbacks

Without government intervention, Citizens Advice warns:

• 48% of households will have to turn down or turn off their heating or hot water
• 34% will struggle to afford food or other essentials, e.g. mortgage, rent or childcare, and 7% will be forced to skip meals

It says the predicted £150 price-cap increase will mean 187,000 more people’s essential expenses will exceed their income, on top of the five million others who already live in a similar situation.

While government plans for renewable energy could eventually bring down our energy bills, households in desperate need can’t afford to wait that long.

Reform the warm home discount

One thing that could make an immediate difference is reforming the £150 warm home discount, the charity says.

It’s calling for action to make sure the one-off payment reaches more people and better addresses their energy needs. The charity says households with low incomes and high energy needs, like families with children or disabilities, should be eligible for more financial support. It says doing this would also help the poorest pensioners and provide more support than previous schemes like the winter fuel payment.

Help with energy bills

Nearly five million people (7% of households) in Britain owe money to their energy supplier. And this more than doubles to over 14% if you have kids.

Our guide can help you if you’ve fallen behind on your energy bills, or you’re worried about the cost of heating your home.