Almost half of adults in Great Britain, 46 per cent, say they are likely to ration their energy use this winter, according to a survey by the fuel poverty charity National Energy Action and YouGov published on 30 September 20241. The finding came the day before the Ofgem price cap rose by 10 per cent, on 1 October1.
It found that 27 per cent of adults had found it difficult to pay for their energy in the last year, rising to 45 per cent among those on a low income of less than £15,000 a year1. Over a third of adults on prepayment meters, 37 per cent, said they had gone without power or heating when they needed it1.
National Energy Action said the price cap increase leaves 6 million UK households in fuel poverty, using its definition that a household is in fuel poverty if it needs to spend 10 per cent or more of its income on energy to maintain a satisfactory heating regime1. A typical household now faces an annual bill of £1,717, up from £1,5681. Ofgem calculates the cap per kilowatt hour rather than on the total bill, so customers who use more pay more1. Ofgem confirmed on 26 September that energy debts are at record levels, with customers owing £3.7 billion1.
The survey also asked about cutbacks made in the previous three months, when energy costs are typically lower1:
| Measure | All GB adults | On a low income |
|---|---|---|
| Turned off more lights than wanted | 48% | 56% |
| Reduced use of baths or showers | 40% | 57% |
| Had cold meals rather than use the oven | 23% | 43% |
| Did not run the washing machine when needed | 25% | 45% |
Four per cent reported reducing the use of essential medical equipment such as oxygen and hoists1. A fifth, 18 per cent, said they had cut back on essential items or services, 8 per cent had borrowed from family or friends, and 4 per cent had missed payments on other essential household bills such as rent, mortgage or council tax1.
Adam Scorer, chief executive at National Energy Action, said:
"Millions of households face another dreadful winter, resigned to increasing energy debt or not heating their homes at all. We find ourselves stuck in a predictable loop of increasing prices and inadequate support."
Why it matters for households
Rationing energy means using less than is needed to maintain comfort and wellbeing, which is the definition the survey applied1. For a household, the practical effect is a trade-off between the size of the bill and the warmth, hot water and cooking the home gets. The figures on cold meals, skipped showers and unrun washing machines show that trade-off being made even in the warmer months, when bills are usually lower1.
The price cap sets a maximum rate per kilowatt hour rather than a ceiling on the total bill, so a household's costs still rise with the units it uses1. Record energy debt of £3.7 billion means many households are repaying arrears alongside their current usage going into winter1. The survey did not report how households expect to manage those repayments, and no breakdown of rationing by nation, tenure or payment method beyond prepayment meters has been published1.
What happens next
The 10 per cent price cap increase took effect on 1 October 20241. National Energy Action called for the UK government to increase support through the Warm Homes Discount scheme and to work with Ofgem and energy suppliers on direct support to reduce bills, help people at risk of self-disconnection and tackle record energy debt1. It also said the decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment has put more vulnerable pensioners at risk, citing Age UK figures that two million vulnerable pensioners could miss out on support and that 880,000 eligible pensioners do not claim pension credit1. No further dates for cap changes or support decisions are given in the announcement; the next official energy statistics publications covering prices and debt have not been reported here.