Record increase in energy prices is 'hammer blow' for consumers, says Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) as demand for its advice soars five times pre-pandemic levels
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Demand for energy advice has soared to five times pre-pandemic levels, according to Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS).
The network, which includes a bureau in Inverness, published new figures amid newly-announced record energy price increases which it described as a “hammer blow” for consumers.
The recent announcement by energy regulator, Ofgem, of a 54 per cent rise in the energy cap – pushing the average household annual bill to almost £2000 – has also alarmed campaigners for older people in the Highlands where fuel poverty rates are among the highest in Scotland.
The issues are being highlighted by the Inverness Courier’s ongoing End The Chill campaign.
CAS said its online grants and benefits advice page to help pay energy bills saw an 87 per cent increase in searches in December from the previous month, and was five times higher than the pre-pandemic figure.
The figures followed the previous record price cap rise of £140 in October.
Polling commissioned by the charity also suggests almost half a million people in Scotland are cutting back on food spending to deal with unaffordable energy bills.
CAS Fair Markets spokesperson Kate Morrison said: “The record price cap increase is a hammer blow for consumers, as the cost of living crisis squeezes household budgets to breaking point.”
She continued: “The rising cost of living isn’t just energy bills – its prices in the shops too.
“When this collides with flat or falling incomes from benefits and wages people are faced with this nightmare choice between heating their homes and feeding their families.”
The CAS’s Big Energy Saving Winter campaign encourages people to get advice.
“Switching isn’t really an option – what matters is getting more money in people’s pockets in the first place,” Ms Morrison said.
“CABs can help, with an average gain for people who see a financial result from energy advice being around £272.”
Read more: Rising energy costs causing catastrophic damage
