Lynette Williams
Senior Energy Expert, Citizens Advice
Get support for your energy. Here’s how to manage your bills, reduce debt and get the help you need.
One in ten households1 in Great Britain now owes money to their supplier.
Citizens Advice says the typical person seeking energy debt help is in almost £1,700 of arrears — £700 more than three years ago. With winter just beginning, the charity has already distributed nearly 63,000 fuel vouchers this year.
Tips, grants and extra support
Small changes at home can keep costs down, such as checking heating controls or using the ‘eco’ setting on appliances.
Check available grants and benefits to help pay for energy and make your home easier and cheaper to heat. You might be eligible for the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment, Cold Weather Payment or other grants provided by your energy supplier. Councils may also offer emergency help, for example, if you lose your job and can’t top up your meter. Or you might be able to apply for support with the cost of energy efficiency upgrades like insulation. The Citizens Advice website has lots of information on how to do this.
The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free service for eligible customers providing extra help when you need it. For example, support during a power cut or for someone to take a meter reading if you can’t do it. More information, including how to join the register, is available on the Citizens Advice website.
Check available grants and benefits to help pay for energy and make your home easier and cheaper to heat.
Help is available
If your energy bills are starting to feel overwhelming, contact your energy supplier or our consumer service to speak with a trained energy adviser. Find more energy information on the Citizens Advice website.
Debt Relief Scheme
Ofgem is working on plans to help reduce household energy debt, with the first stage expected to start in early 2026. The support is planned for people receiving means-tested benefits, along with a few other eligibility criteria. If the scheme goes ahead, you won’t need to do anything — your energy supplier will check whether you qualify and get in touch with you directly.
