Energy debt in Great Britain has hit an all-time high - already three times higher than it was a year ago - and many householders now fear being forced to switch to a prepayment meter if they fall behind.
Millions of UK homes are already in debt over their energy bills - with £1.3 billion owed, even before bills are set to soar by more than 80%.
The overall debt bill is already three times higher than it was a year ago, according to analysts at Uswitch, and it seems likely it will grow further over the winter. Six million homes across the UK owe an average of £206 to their energy provider, according to a survey from the company. In April, the same average debt was £188.
Normally at this time of year, bill payers have accrued a 'float' over the warmer months, to help even out the increased bills during the winter. Regulator Ofgem is expected to raise the price cap on energy bills to £3,582 per year for the average household in Great Britain from the beginning of October, according to a new forecast."Energy debt has hit an all-time high with the worst possible timing, turning this winter's energy price hike into a deeply precarious situation for many households," said Justina Miltienyte, head of policy at Uswitch.
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