New polling from National Energy Action (NEA) and YouGov has found that 49% of British adults in expect to ration their energy in the coming months, as average bills are set to rise.
Ofgem announced energy bills are set for a third successive increase, with the price cap rising 6.4% to £1,849 a year for a typical household from 1 April.
The polling also found that only 42% of adults said that they have been able to comfortably afford their heating bill in the last three months, without needing to ration their heating or making cuts elsewhere.
Adam Scorer, NEA’s chief executive, 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.”