Millions of households are facing mounting financial pressure, with one in three adults either already in debt to their energy supplier or expecting to struggle with payments in the coming months.
The findings come just weeks before a 13 per cent rise in the energy price cap takes effect in July, intensifying concerns for families already grappling with higher living costs.
New research from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition suggests many households are finding it increasingly difficult to afford basic energy use.
The study found that people struggling with bills are cutting back on essentials, skipping meals and relying on food banks in an effort to stay on top of rising costs.
Among those already behind on payments, the average energy debt now stands at £750.
The research also highlighted the growing use of high‑risk borrowing.
One in eight respondents who are in arrears or worried about falling behind said they owe money to “someone who makes them feel scared” — a figure that rises to almost one in four among those already in debt.
Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “This is a can’t‑pay crisis, not a won’t‑pay one.
One in three households fear energy debt as bills rise and average arrears hit £750
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“Ordinary people are skipping meals, visiting food banks and resorting to risky forms of borrowing just to keep the lights on.”
Some groups appear to be disproportionately affected.
Nearly half of parents with children under 18 said they were either in energy debt or worried about falling into arrears, while more than a third of disabled people expressed concerns about keeping up with payments.
Many households are attempting to cut energy use to reduce bills.
More than one in five said they had gone without food to meet energy costs
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Almost a third of people in debt said they had turned off heating more often or shortened showers, while a quarter reported living in uncomfortably cold homes.
The strain is spilling into other areas of household finances. Around a fifth of those in energy debt said they had fallen behind on rent or mortgage payments, and a similar proportion reported using food banks.
Total energy debt across Britain has doubled in recent years and now stands at £5.5billion, with industry projections suggesting it could reach £7billion by the end of 2026.
Many customers said they felt unsupported by their suppliers.
Only 18 per cent of those in arrears believed they had been treated fairly, and just eight per cent said they had been directed towards debt‑advice services.
Thirteen per cent reported receiving no communication from their supplier in the past year.
Campaigners are calling for a debt‑relief scheme to support households facing persistent financial difficulties.
Janine Michael, chief executive of the Centre for Sustainable Energy, warned that temporary measures alone would not solve the problem.
“Debt relief alone is a sticking plaster,” she said, calling for greater investment in energy‑efficiency improvements to help reduce bills over the long term.