Twenty families a day are feared to be leaving themselves without power and heating because they cannot afford to top up pre-pay meters.
The number of households who “self-disconnected” after running out of credit more than doubled last month, according to Citizens Advice. One of the charity’s frontline staff warned: “In over 20 years of advising, this is the worst it’s ever been.”
Many have had to switch to the meters as they are behind on bills. The average arrears of people contacting CA about energy costs are £1,446.
Energy bills are predicted to rise by 50% to an average of £2,000 a year when the current price cap is raised in April due to the global demand for gas and electricity post-pandemic.
Even with current prices, says CA, vulnerable households are struggling. In December, the charity supported 599 people who had “disconnected” from their own supply as they could not afford to top up meters – up from 272 in a year.
Staff have helped 18,200 with fuel debt in the past three months alone, compared with 12,897 in 2020 and 11,493 in 2019.
And research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows 1.4 million low-income homes are behind on energy bills.
Nicola Duffy, of Newcastle CA, said: “We’re seeing people ration fuel or have their meter run out a week away from their next benefit payment.”
Analysis suggests April’s expected price cap rise will leave the poorest spending a third of income on energy. This could rise to 37% in October – when the price cap will go up again by an estimated £200.
CA is urging the Government to create an emergency support package. Chief executive Clare Moriarty said: “Our advisers are hearing from people relying on hot water bottles or turning off their fridges. With April’s price cap set to push energy bills to a generational high, things are set to go from bad to worse.”
Energy UK, which represents suppliers, said: “We do not want anyone struggling to pay their bills, which is why we are working with Government to find additional support.”
