Overview
- A Uswitch poll reported on Tuesday found more than nine million households are heading into winter either in debt to their energy supplier or with no credit built up.
- About 3.4 million homes are in arrears and owe roughly £750 million in total, which works out at about £220 per indebted household on average.
- Ofgem raised the regulated price cap to £1,723 on October 1 and forecasters now expect the cap could rise by around 22–25% in January, increasing bills sharply for those without cushions.
- Citizens Advice has urged the Chancellor to announce immediate crisis support and to broaden schemes such as the Warm Home Discount ahead of the Budget to protect working families and disabled households.
- Many households are advised to switch tariffs, take meter readings, use smart meters and contact suppliers for repayment plans but only about one in eight people in debt say they have been helped to set up an affordable plan so far.