A growing proportion of consumers in Scotland are experiencing energy debt, new figures show.
The latest Consumer Scotland Energy Tracker shows 15% of respondents in 2025 are in energy debt or arrears - equivalent to 383,000 households in Scotland - an increase from last year, when it was 9%.
Some groups of consumers are more likely to be in energy debt including those on lower incomes and those with long-term health conditions or disabilities.
The survey – conducted in January and February this year - shows the proportion of consumers who say they were put on a prepayment meter due to their debts more than doubled in the past year from 16% to 34%.
Despite the increase in people experiencing debt, consumers are finding it easier to keep up with their energy bills than was the case during the peak of the cost-of-living crisis in 2022 and 2023.
Sixteen per cent of respondents - equivalent to 393,000 households – said they found it difficult to keep up with their energy bills compared to 26% in 2024 and 35% in winter 2022-2023.
However, while perceptions of affordability have improved, a significant number of consumers continue to face challenges.
One third (33%) said they could not heat their home to a comfortable level because of affordability concerns – similar to the previous year.
The proportion of respondents who said they had to cut back spending on other things to afford energy bills was 64% - again similar to the previous year.
The report comes as regulator Ofgem prepares to announce the latest energy price cap figure on Friday – which is predicted to fall after several increases in a row.
Consumer Scotland has made a series of recommendations including reforms to affordability support.
Consumer Scotland also supports ongoing work by Ofgem on a proposed Debt Relief Scheme and is seeking to ensure the design of the scheme is fair, appropriate and meets the needs of consumers in Scotland.
Consumer Scotland Director of Research and Analysis David Eiser said:
“Affordability of energy bills has improved since the peak of the cost-of-living crisis, but challenges remain acute for some groups, and there are ongoing legacies in terms of energy debt and anxiety for consumers.
“In the short term, this underlines the need for further energy bill support targeted at those consumers who need it most.
“Ofgem’s proposals to provide relief to customers who accumulated energy debt during the crisis period are welcome. We also want the UK and Scottish governments to provide more targeted affordability support for consumers that need it the most as quickly as practical.
“As well as reforms to affordability support, a number of broader changes are underway in the energy retail market. These include a growing number of tariffs that provide opportunities for consumers to reduce their bills by varying when or how they use energy.”
Background
Insights from the 2025 Energy Affordability Tracker
Consumer Scotland has been tracking people’s perception of the affordability of energy bills regularly since March 2022. The current report summarises the findings from the seventh wave of our energy tracker survey, fieldwork for which was undertaken between 31 January and 14 February 2025.
The online survey for the tracker was delivered by IFF Research and involved 1,656 adults aged 16 and over in Scotland.
Findings from previous energy affordability trackers shows risk factors most associated with energy debt were having a disability that limits a lot, having a health condition, and having a child under five in the household.
One of the legacies of the past three years of high bills has been a growth of energy debt and arrears, which in the GB domestic market has reached £3.85bn – a record high.
Consumers struggling with their energy bills should contact Advice Direct Scotland which provides free advice on the financial support available from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Their advice line is 0808 196 8660.
Consumer Scotland is the statutory body for consumers in Scotland which was established by the Consumer Scotland Act 2020.