Household are already lumbered with a record £1.3billion of energy debt - as experts predicted average bills will surge to more than £4,400 next year.
Research published today by the price comparison website Uswitch reveals the amount customers owe to energy suppliers is nearly three times higher than it was last September.
The level of debt built up is even more worrying as households that pay by monthly direct debit are usually in credit at this time of the year, given gas usage is much lower in the summer.
