58% of households expect to cut energy use

National Energy Action says 58% of households expect to cut heating use as typical annual dual-fuel bill increases to £1,755.

Polling from National Energy Action with YouGov has found that people with health conditions expect to ration their heating this winter, and many prepayment meter households have run out of credit at least once in the past 12 months.

The energy price cap is rising by 2% (around £35 a year for a typical household) from today (1st October, 2025). This means the energy bill for a typical household will be £1,755 a year, almost £500 higher than it was in October 2021, before the energy crisis. As well as this, energy debt continues to grow, with Ofgem statistics from last week showing total energy debt has risen to a record £4.43b4.

The polling shows that 71% of adults with a heart condition and 64% of those with asthma say they are likely to ration their heating this upcoming winter. Whilst six in ten (58%) of GB adults say they are likely to ration their heating this upcoming winter, which is an increase of nine percentage points when compared to National Energy Action’s polling in January 2025.

A further 38% of prepayment meter customers say they have found themselves without credit on their prepayment meter and unable to access any heating or power when they needed it at least once in the last 12 months. This is an increase of 13 percentage points when compared with National Energy Action’s polling in January 2025

National Energy Action Chief Executive Adam Scorer said “Unaffordable energy bills present a risk to health – and life – this winter. These findings indicate that some of the most vulnerable people are already struggling and, justifiably, extremely worried about the coming winter. Self-disconnecting from your heat and power is an act of desperation, becoming even more serious as the weather gets colder. No household should be in this situation in the UK in 2025, but many are.”

“Household energy debt is at monstrous levels. Ofgem’s plans to help people out of debt are welcome, but need to go much further. Energy bills are rising, debt levels are rising, fears for the coming winter are rising. The Warm Homes Plan needs to provide this certainty for the long term.”