Derek Mitchell: huge numbers of people in our communities are experiencing real harm – not just physically but mentally as well – because they can’t afford their fuel bills

Stricter rules from Ofgem were introduced in November 2023 to help people clear energy-related debt. The rules stopped energy suppliers retrieving debt by installing the meters in homes that didn't have them.  

Great news, problem solved, right? Wrong. 

Fast forward to now and the picture is clear. Our energy markets are broken and people across Scotland are still living with constant dread around how to pay to keep their homes warm and the lights on.   

Our network of CABs support hundreds of people every day that are experiencing energy-related issues and work with them to take the burden of debt away from them.  

We work closely with our network to get to the heart of the issues and in turn, raise awareness and advocate for change; most recently via our Worried This Winter? Let’s Chat campaign. 

As part of this, we polled the public to find out the true extent of the energy crisis across Scottish communities. And the results were stark.  

More than two fifth (42%) of people in Scotland are worried about energy costs. Almost two thirds (62%) have cut back on household spending due to rising energy costs.  

And nearly three in five people (56%) say they have not been heating all of their rooms or turning down thermostats, during what has been a very cold winter. There's also been a 51% increase in worry around energy debt for those aged 45-54. 

Overall, these numbers are slightly down compared to the previous year, but they still highlight the issue that people are trapped in a circle of energy-related debt.  

In addition to the stats, evidence from our CABs clearly shows that the issue is very much alive and people across Scotland are worried about meeting the most basic and essential needs.  

Just last week we used this evidence from our network to call on Ofgem to bring in a new debt relief scheme to people in energy debt.  

So, with temperatures continuing to drop and a few weeks left of the campaign period, it’s worth a reminder of what we’ve done and why.  

We worked closely with spoken word artist, Kevin McLean, who created a poem that captured the experiences of real people worried about energy costs.  

Kevin’s performance of the poem is currently running on STV but if you haven’t managed to catch-up on TV this week, you can watch it here: https://shorturl.at/aiL73. 

Having someone talk so powerfully about the real emotions of real people has already had a significant impact. CAB advisers across the country say people have mentioned the poem when they come to seek help – and that of course is what the campaign is all about.   

Huge numbers of people in our communities are experiencing real harm – not just physically but mentally as well – because they can’t afford these high fuel bills. For many, visiting their local CAB has been a lifeline. 

Our specialist advisers can provide face-to-face advice, go through the situation and work out the next steps. They will help communicate with energy suppliers, set up a manageable repayment plan or explore eligibility for any grants or discounts. All free, confidential and impartial. 

So, in the last two weeks of the campaign you can help us spread our message to anyone you think needs to hear it. Worried This Winter? Chat to Us.  

Derek Mitchell is Chief Executive of  Citizens Advice Scotland.

This column was first published in the Herald www.theherald.co.uk