Tens of thousands in fuel debt as prices keep rising

Citizens Advice responds to new analysis that Government’s energy and climate change policies are tempering the impact on household energy bills.

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

“The Government’s claim to providing a cushion between energy prices and household bills is unlikely to offer much comfort to the tens of thousands of people racking up debts because they can’t afford to heat their homes or keep the lights on. Household fuel bills are going up and bureaux see too many families forced to make the decision between heating and eating.

“The poorest households are picking up the tab for the Government’s energy projects as costs are added to everyone's energy bills. If the Government is going to continue down this regressive road they need to make sure that the fuel poor benefit by ring fencing more of the Energy Company Obligation for them. Energy companies also need to be quicker to pass on savings to customers when wholesale prices fall.”

Notes to editors:

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website .

  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.

  3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk . You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk

  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers

  5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends

  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.