A charity in Ipswich says it's pushing for better rates and tariffs, so fewer people fall into fuel poverty
Citizens Advice Ipswich says more clients are struggling with electricity, gas and heating bills than with any other type of debt.
Fuel debts have overtaken council tax and credit cards as the biggest source of financial stress for people seeking help from Citizens Advice Ipswich.
The charity says energy-related debts, including electricity, gas and other home heating costs, have steadily increased since the pandemic and are now the most common problem raised by clients.
Nelleke van Helfteren, communications manager at Citizens Advice Ipswich, said energy debt refers to “electricity bills, gas bills and other ways of heating and cooking in your home."
She said the change marks a major shift from previous years.
“Before the pandemic, the debt that was most frequently brought to us by our clients was council tax arrears or credit card debt,” she said. “Over the last few years, energy debts have crept up.”
The warning comes as Citizens Advice Ipswich marks Energy Savers Week, running until the 26th of February, with a campaign encouraging households to make small changes that could reduce energy use and cut bills.
Chief executive Nicky Willshere said:
“It’s clear the cost of living crisis hasn’t gone away, and we at Citizens Advice Ipswich are here to help. Our debt and energy advice teams are helping people with all manner of bills. Alongside this we are pleased to offer practical advice on how to reduce fuel debts for families across the region.”
Calls for politicians to see the impact
Nelleke van Helfteren said the scale of hardship faced by residents is not always fully understood.
“I invite the politicians to come and spend a day with us,” she said.
“Have a little listen, talk to clients, find out the stats of what’s going on in their particular area, and see how seriously deep-rooted and embedded some of the issues are.”
She said many people come to Citizens Advice believing they are “at the end of the road”.
“We’ve worked with people who didn’t realise they were eligible for a benefit, and we were able to get it backpaid for some months, which makes a massive difference,” she said.
“We’ve helped people in disputes with landlords, and we’ve helped people get debts written off.”
Simple changes to cut energy use
As part of Energy Savers Week, Citizens Advice Ipswich is sharing practical tips for households.
In the bathroom, people are encouraged to keep showers to around four minutes, reduce shower temperature, ventilate rooms properly to prevent damp, and turn off taps while brushing teeth or shaving.
When doing the washing, advice includes using eco cycles, washing at lower temperatures where possible, drying clothes outside or on heated airers instead of tumble dryers, and running appliances at cheaper times if on a smart tariff, but only when at home and awake for safety.
In the kitchen, using smaller appliances like air fryers or microwaves for single meals can save energy, as can defrosting food in the fridge before cooking, using lids on pans, and only boiling the amount of water needed in the kettle.
For heating, households are advised to check that thermostats are set between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius, lower heating when out or asleep, adjust radiator valves room by room, use radiator reflectors in poorly insulated homes, and close curtains at night to keep heat in.
Help and support are available
Citizens Advice Ipswich is also encouraging people to check whether they are eligible for grants to improve home energy efficiency, including the Energy Company Obligation, Great British Insulation Scheme, Warm Homes Local Grant scheme, and Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Nelleke said support is widely available:
“It’s available in many forms. It’s available in person, it’s available online, it’s available by telephone, by web chat and by email.”
She added:
“Just give us a call, send us a message. There’s no shame in asking for help.”
People worried about energy bills or debt can contact the energy advice helpline on 01473 298638 or visit the Citizens Advice Ipswich website for Everyday Energy Wins guidance.