Business · Energy & Commodities · 3 hrs ago
More than nine million UK homes face winter with energy debt or no credit
More than nine million UK homes have energy debt or no credit as winter approaches, a survey for Uswitch suggests.
Only 55% of billpayers are in credit, down from 64% in 2022.
About 3.4 million households owe their energy suppliers an estimated £750 million, or an average of £220 each.
Ofgem’s price cap rose 3.6% to £1,723 for a typical household on October 1, and forecasters expect a further rise of around 22% in January.
Some households say they plan to wear extra layers instead of turning on the heating, while others expect to spend less on food to cover energy costs.
Citizens Advice wants the government to expand crisis support in next week’s Budget, including help for some families with children and disabled people who do not qualify under current means-tested rules.
The charity also wants the government to fully fund its Warm Homes Plan to improve cold, inefficient homes.
More than nine million UK homes are heading into winter in energy debt or with no credit, a Uswitch survey suggests.
Two in five households surveyed said they were more worried about paying for energy this winter than last.
About 3.4 million households owe their energy suppliers an estimated £750 million, averaging £220 per household.
Ofgem’s price cap rose by 3.6% to £1,723 for a typical household on October 1, and forecasters expect a further rise in January.
Citizens Advice called for additional crisis support for households struggling with energy costs.
- Who
- More than nine million UK homes, according to a Uswitch survey.
- What
- Homes are entering winter in energy debt or with no credit.
- When
- Ahead of winter 2026; the article was published on October 20, 2026.
- Where
- The UK.
- Why
- The survey found that many households had not built up credit to cover higher winter bills.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ofgem’s energy price cap rose by 3.6% to £1,723 for a typical household.
The Independent published the survey findings on household energy debt and credit.
Forecasters were predicting a further price cap rise of around 22%.
- Homes affected
- More than 9 million
- Households in supplier debt
- Around 3.4 million
- Estimated supplier debt
- £750 million
- Average debt per household
- £220
- Households more worried about energy costs
- 40%
- Typical household price cap
- £1,723 after a 3.6% rise on October 1
What people are saying
Credit is the cushion that turns a frightening winter bill into a manageable one, but for millions, building a summer buffer for the winter simply hasn’t happened.
Our advisers are seeing disabled workers weighed down by massive energy debts, and parents who are working but still unable to cover the costs of basics for their family.
First, the Government must provide immediate, expanded crisis support. Second, it must deliver on its existing commitments to upgrade leaky, cold and inefficient homes by fully funding the Warm Homes Plan.