ALMOST half of adults are struggling to pay their energy bills.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 45 per cent of those who paid energy bills in March to June this year were struggling to afford it.
Of those experiencing financial difficulties, those who pay energy bills using prepayment 'top-up' cards were amongst those feeling the biggest brunt.
Around 7 in 10 (72 per cent) who paid by prepayment for their energy reported difficulty affording it.
72% of adults who paid for energy by top up prepayments reported difficulty affording it, compared with 42% of those who paid by either direct debit or one-off payments ⚡️
— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) October 25, 2022
This data covers 29 September to 9 October 2022.
➡️ https://t.co/pfUay7lryA pic.twitter.com/JkCzppH6ZH
Citizens Advice are amongst those who are witnessing these difficulties first-hand.
The independent organisation, which helps those seeking debt and legal advice, have said they have seen more people in this situation than the whole of the previous three years combined.
As of September, the service has seen 3,612 people who can't afford to top up their prepayment meter each month.
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Andy Auld, chief officer of Citizens Advice Carlisle & Eden, said: "CACE is sadly continuing to see huge demand for its services and referring record-breaking numbers of people to crisis support (such as food banks and charitable grants).
"Every day we hear from people in desperate situations, who are struggling to get by, worried about how they’ll feed their kids and scared to turn the heating on.
"We’re helping people on benefits, workers, families and pensioners. Everyone seems to be struggling and the future looks bleak if the government doesn’t act.
"That’s why it’s really important the government commits to helping those on low incomes with their rising costs. The obvious step has to be increasing benefits in line with inflation," he said.
Looking ahead, Mr Auld said energy companies should be temporarily banned over the winter period from forcing those who cannot afford bills to go onto a prepayment meter.
"The government should commit to supporting people on the lowest incomes by increasing rates in line with inflation rather than earnings - anything less would blow a hold in people’s finances.
"Clear guidance on how the government plans to support people from April 2023.In particular we’re worried about people on benefits but also those for whom a rise in annual energy prices to £4K+ would be absolutely disastrous.
"It’s essentially that any long-term measures address the need to help people make their homes more energy efficient
"Finally, no one should be chased for a debt they can’t pay or force people onto a prepayment meter if they can’t cover their bills. We’d like to see a winter ban on energy companies using this practice," he said.
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