Brits with failed energy firms will have their cash better protected under tough new plans from regulator Ofgem.
Energy bills are currently an average of £1,971 a year and are set to hit £2,800 by October.
Most of this is due to the soaring cost of energy - but some of it is due to covering the cost of energy firms failing and needing to repay customers.
Now, Ofgem has unveiled a shake-up which could help customers in credit, which is how much extra you have overpaid on your energy bills.
If you pay these bills by direct debit, you may overpay in some months.
Normally energy firms use that cash to reduce your future energy bills.
But many of these firms have been using customers' credit balances "like an interest-free company credit card", according to the boss of Ofgem.
To make things worse, if your energy firm collapses you may struggle to get your credit back - and this is pushing up energy bills.
That is because the current rules mean consumers are not entitled to any of their credit - basically overpayments - from their failed supplier.
Dozens of energy companies collapsed last year due to the soaring cost of providing power.
Customers of these firms were swapped over to other providers, but many had to battle to get hundreds of pounds of credit back from their old energy supplier.
The average household is paying £94 extra in their energy bills to cover the cost of these failures.
Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley said some energy firms use customers' credit balances "like an interest-free company credit card".
He added: "Moving forward, all suppliers will have to have enough working capital to run, without putting their customers’ credit balances at risk.”
Now Ofgem plans to force energy companies to protect customers' cash balances and stop them raising direct debit payments by more than necessary.
The regulator also wants to cut the risk of more energy firms collapsing by making them hold on to more cash, acting as a buffer.
An Ofgem statement said: "These changes will reduce the risk of suppliers going bust and protect the credit balances of energy customers if their suppliers do, preventing a repeat of last year’s failures that put unfair and unnecessary costs and worry onto consumers."
Thousands more Brits are set to fall into debt with at least four in 10 people braced for fuel poverty in October.
Millions of households will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills later this year as families continue to struggle against the cost of living crisis.
The new support was confirmed as a replacement for the £200 "loan-not-loan" that would've needed to be paid back starting from 2023.
Energy providers can set up payment plans to help customers with bills.
Shelter also provides information to help people struggling to pay their energy bills - it can give more details of the Warm Home Discount and explain what you can get dependent on your particular circumstance.
Anxieties about the cost of living are common and fears over how to look after your loved ones can take a toll on more than just a bank balance.
If you feel you need extra help, charities like mental health outfit Mind can be a great way to help with your wellbeing.
