If your energy bills are causing sleepless nights, you're not alone – and importantly, you don't have to struggle in silence. Citizens Advice is urging households across the UK to reach out for help, reminding families that there's more support available than many people realise.
The cost of living crisis hasn't gone away, and energy bills remain a major worry for millions of households. But here's what Citizens Advice wants you to know: help is available, whatever your circumstances, and asking for it early can prevent a difficult situation from becoming overwhelming.
Your energy supplier might have a pot of money specifically to help customers like you. Most energy companies run grant schemes for people who are behind on bills or facing financial hardship – money you don't have to pay back. There are also government schemes worth checking: the Warm Home Discount Scheme offers a one-off discount on your electricity bill, while Winter Fuel Payments provide extra support for pensioners during the colder months.
Citizens Advice doesn't just tell you what's out there – they'll walk you through checking if you qualify and help you apply. Their advisers can also help you make sense of confusing energy bills, tackle debt problems, and explore ways to make your home more energy-efficient, which could save you money in the long run.
With household budgets still stretched by high prices and wages that haven't kept pace, energy costs remain a real source of stress. The key message from Citizens Advice is simple: don't wait until you're in crisis. Getting help early often means getting better help, and it can stop money worries from spiralling out of control.