Energy data

Record numbers of people are being helped with energy issues

Most of the people who we're helping with an energy issue are struggling to afford their essentials. For example, of the people we helped with energy issues in 2023, over 50% needed help with crisis support (like food bank referrals or emergency charitable support).

Record numbers of people being helped who can't afford to top up their prepayment meters

We continue to break unwelcome records in the number of people we've seen who can't afford to top up their prepayment meter.

In 2022 we saw more people who couldn't afford to top up their prepayment meter than the whole of the previous ten years combined. 

2023 was even worse - and January 2024 was another record month.

In January 2024, we helped a record number of people who couldn't afford to top up their prepayment meter, as record numbers struggle with rising energy prices and the cold weather.

But these numbers have dropped off significantly in February 2024 due to a combination of the £299 February Cost of Living payments and the warmest February on record.

Will this downward trend continue through March or will the impact of the February Cost of Living payments be short-lived?

The early signs from March are that, following a drop in February, the number of people we're helping with a fuel voucher to top up their prepayment meter is on an upward trend again.

The crisis is not affecting everyone equally

The graph below shows the proportion of people we're seeing who can't afford to top up their prepayment meter by demographic group.

The high proportion of people with a disability or long-term health condition who can't afford to top up is particularly concerning due to the increased risk of significant physical and mental harm for these groups.

Record numbers of people being helped with an energy debt issue

As record numbers struggle to pay for their energy, we are helping record numbers of people with energy debt .

The number of people we're helping with energy debts has been on an upward trend during the cost-of-living crisis - and February 2024 was yet another record month for this issue.

Growing levels of debt

The size of people's debt is also spiralling.

We've seen levels of energy debt among the people we're helping with energy debt.

Energy debt is now the leading debt issue we help people with across most of the country.

Below, we've mapped the top debt issues faced by people by local authority by financial quarter. Before the pandemic council tax arrears were the most common form of debt, followed by credit, store and charge card debts - but this is now energy debts as energy costs rise.

One caveat is that rent arrears has consistently been the dominant debt issue in Greater London.

Energy costs have risen rapidly since 2021

Historically high energy costs, alongside high housing costs, are driving the people we help - and millions across the country - into a negative budget.

Read our latest report for more insights on the impact of high energy and housing costs in driving millions into a negative budget.

We're helping record numbers of people with practical energy efficiency advice

We're helping record numbers of people with practical energy efficiency advice, as people struggle to afford sky-high energy bills.