Nine million homes face winter in energy debt or with no credit as bills are tipped to soar in January

Some 3.4 million households already owe their supplier a combined £750m, an average of £220 each, according to Uswitch research. The share of bill-payers in credit has dropped to 55%, down from 64% in 2022. Almost one in 12 plan to cut back on food to cover heating. The price cap rose 3.6% to £1,723 on October 1, and forecasters expect a further jump of around a quarter in January.

Young adults are hardest hit: one in six aged 18 to 34 owe their supplier money.

Only 12% of indebted customers say their supplier helped arrange a repayment plan.

Some 43% will pile on extra layers rather than switch the heating on.