Debts soar as power bills arrive

More households are being driven deeper into debt as winter bills land on doorsteps, consumer groups have warned.

Four in ten households are reporting that, despite the milder winter, their bills are higher than last year, according to research by Consumer Focus and Citizens Advice.

A third say their bills have been higher than they’d expected following a relatively mild winter that allowed them to cut their energy consumption. Suppliers announced price cuts over the winter, but the reductions have only started coming into force over the past few weeks.

Mike O’Connor, chief executive of Consumer Focus, said: “We’d urge anyone struggling to pay their bill to contact their energy firm and Citizen’s Advice as soon as possible.

“The sooner you get in touch the less chance there is for debts to build and become harder to repay.”