Families across Suffolk facing energy crisis as bills rise

Ipswich's Citizens Advice has already helped more than 200 families this year - and has generated more than £240,000 in grants that have been available to those who are eligible for help with energy bills.

This comes after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the winter fuel payments scheme is being overhauled, with only those not on benefits still receiving the cash.

An estimated more than 150,000 people in Suffolk are set to be affected by the decision.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves previously said the winter fuel payments scheme is changing (Image: Lucy North)

And it has been announced the energy price cap is set to rise by about 9% in October.

Nicky Willshere, chief officer at Citizens Advice in Ipswich, explained the dilemma clients are facing: “The cost-of-living crisis continues - we are seeing more and more clients that are self-disconnecting due to lack of funds.

"Families that were managing before are worried about providing food on the table and so they’re going without heat and electricity a lot of the time.

"The added concern about potential increased petrol prices will place additional pressures on households.

"As the need is so high and dealing with the issues demands substantial case work, we have just recruited an additional case worker to boost the team's efforts."

There is a similar story at Citizens Advice East Suffolk, which covers the area from Felixstowe to Lowestoft.

Chief officer Chiara Saunders said demand for help with utility issues has crept up over the years with the main areas of advice being billing issues, people unable to pay, requests for fuel vouchers and complaints.

In the financial years 2023/24 it saw 554 clients with issues over energy - a 13% increase on 2022/23 and a 38% increase on 2021/22.

All types of households are struggling but people on prepayment meters, who are often on the lowest incomes, are hit hardest.

Ms Saunders said: "We have had people phoning regarding the changes in the winter fuel payment and pension credit eligibility as a result of this.

"Our worry is that people will underheat their homes to be able to afford bills and this could affect the health of vulnerable people.

"Inevitably there are people who are needy in this age group but who won't qualify for pension credit - how much effort is being made to help them?

"We think it's important to get people to apply for all benefits entitled to and we are pushing for people to check if they qualify for pension credit.

"However, what is important is to remember that households of all demographics are struggling so, alongside the pension credit push, there needs to be a push to make people aware that other help is available if they are worried about their bills and to make them aware they could look at fixing their rates."

This week government ministers met with energy industry bosses and consumers groups to discuss the planned 10% rise in energy bills this winter.

(Image: Newsquest)

Citizens Advice is calling for energy firms to be forced to introduce a social tariff to support those struggling to pay energy bills - but the government is understood to be looking at different ways to deal with the issue.

Dame Clare Moriaty, the national chief executive of Citizens Advice, was at the summit and said while much of the focus had been on pensioner fuel poverty, the charity across the country was actually seeing more inquiries from working-age families on low incomes than it was from older people.

She said: “Suppliers really need to step up to the responsibilities that they have to their customers to make sure that if people are struggling they can have repayment plans.

“But it also needs the government to recognise the need for targeted support and that’s something that we would very much like to see coming out of the meeting."