Half of adults expect to ration energy use

National Energy Action research has found that nearly half of adults (49%) expect to ration energy in coming months as average bills set to rise by over £100.

The data follows on from Ofgem’s announcement that the energy cap will rise by 6.4% in April with the average energy bill rising to £1,849 a year for a typical household.

The research showed that in the last three months, only 42% of adults said that they have been able to comfortably afford their heating bill.

National Energy Action Chief Executive Adam Scorer said “For the third time in a row the price cap is rising. Households already faced sky-high bills as a result of the energy crisis, and today’s announcement will add to the burden on the most vulnerable. We already see the impacts of sustained high bills – total energy debt is at record levels and rising, and people are rationing their heating to dangerous levels and going without essentials.

“National Energy Action is calling for additional targeted energy bill support through a social tariff or an expanded Warm Home Discount; a help-to-repay scheme to support households out of debt; and for the government’s Warm Homes Plan to provide significant investment to insulate the coldest homes for the poorest households.”