People in Scotland have been issued urgent advice following the 54% energy price cap rise.
Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national service advice.scot, has urged people needing support amid the surging cost of gas and electricity bills to get in touch.
Using the charity’s energyadvice.scot service, people can get help regarding billing and meters, complaints and disputes, grants and assistance, loss of energy supply and switching suppliers.
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The charity also manages free debt advice service moneyadvice.scot, which offers information and support on a wide range of debt-related issues.
Following the increase of the price cap by energy regulator Ofgem, average household bills across the UK are set to soar by almost £700 — and another increase is expected later in the year.
In a recent poll, Advice Direct Scotland discovered that over 66% of people in Scotland have concerns about whether they will be able to afford their energy bills this year, with many already feeling cold in their own homes because they are limiting usage.
They also found that 70% of respondents were either very worried or quite worried about being able to pay their bills, while 65% admitted they had already rationed their energy use in the past 12 months so they could afford to spend money on other goods or services, including food.
And of those limiting their usage, 29% said they ‘often’ feel cold in their own home as a result and 57% ‘sometimes’ feel cold – a total of 86%.
The energy price cap, which limits how much providers can charge customers, was introduced in January 2019 and is reviewed by Ofcom every six months.
Chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland Andrew Bartlett said: “This sharp rise will come as a devastating blow for many households across Scotland, and will only intensify the current cost-of-living crisis.
“We know many people are already struggling to afford bills, with two-thirds of those who responded to our poll saying they’ve faced the stark choice between heating and other goods or services like food.
“The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to struggle alone."
He added: “Free, impartial and practical advice is available to everyone in Scotland through our energyadvice.scot service.
“Our expert advisers are on hand to offer support and advice to anyone with concerns, and our specialist debt advisers at moneyadvice.scot can help if you have personal financial worries, are struggling with debt, or need a way of getting back on track.”
