Debt help for those left in the cold

There are 1.4 million people in the UK who cut off their own energy supply due to debt problems.

That’s the finding of Consumer Focus, who are calling on energy companies to make life easier for the 8.8 million people who rely on pre-pay meters.

In their report – Cutting Back, Cutting Down, Cutting Off – the organisation found that half of the households choosing to disconnect include someone ill or disabled, whilst two in five are home to children under 16.

They point out that almost three in five (57 per cent) of those affected cut off their supply because they didn’t have enough money.

A total of 75 per cent also revealed that their debt levels were such that they are already cutting back on essentials like food in an attempt to save enough credit for energy.

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