A poll by Survation for Advice Direct Scotland showed people across Scotland are already feeling the cold.
More than two-thirds of Scots are worried about affording their energy bills this year and many already feel cold in their own homes because they are limiting usage, a new poll shows.
The Survation poll for Advice Direct Scotland has exposed the scale of the cost-of-living crisis, with 70 per cent either very worried or quite worried about being able to pay their bills.
Just under two-thirds (65 per cent) of Scots said they have already limited their energy use in the past 12 months so they could afford to spend money on other goods or services, including food.
And of those rationing their usage, 29 per cent said they often feel cold in their own home as a result and 57 per cent sometimes feel cold – a total of 86 per cent.
The findings come after it was announced that April’s energy price cap rise is set to add £693 to average household costs, while inflation is also running high.
Concerns about affording bills this year are highest in the Highlands and Islands and central Scotland (both 77 per cent), and highest among 35-to-44 year olds (81 per cent).
The poll involved 1,008 respondents in Scotland, with fieldwork conducted between January 26 and 28 - before the price cap hike was even announced.
Advice Direct Scotland runs the national service advice.scot, with advice available to everyone in Scotland, at no cost, regardless of personal circumstance.
Common concerns raised with the charite are big jumps in monthly Direct Debit payments, how these extra costs can be met, and worries about what happens when your supplier goes out of business.
Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: “This stark poll demonstrates the scale of the cost-of-living crisis in Scotland.
“Thousands of households are already rationing their energy use so that they can afford necessities such as food. And, as a result, many are cold in their own homes.
“The looming energy price hike is causing considerable anxiety, with 70 per cent of Scots worried about affording their bills.
“Our advisers are working hard to provide free, practical advice to consumers across Scotland and in tandem with the Scottish Government we are helping to deliver a £4million support fund.
“Nobody has to suffer alone, and anyone concerned about their energy bills should get in touch with us for expert, practical advice.”
Andrew, this is not 'Rocket Science' energy companies going bust with the surviving companies picking up the debts leads to the increased operating cost of the survivors who, in turn, have to increase their prices to survive. Creating too many players with, by definition, fewer customers to amortise their excessive overheads across has led to liquidity problems and closure. We both know where the blame lies. Research of this nature is not knew and many pieces of good work are languishing in filing cabinets with no residual benefit.