Britain's energy debt pile has climbed to a staggering £4.3 billion, with new research suggesting growing numbers of households are taking desperate steps just to keep the lights on.
Figures highlighted by the Mirror show that one in eight people who are behind on their energy bills or worried about missing payments say they owe money to someone who makes them feel frightened. Campaigners say the finding points to a hidden cost of living crisis playing out in living rooms across the country.
The research also indicates that families are increasingly leaning on risky borrowing to stay afloat. That includes payday-style lenders, buy now pay later deals and informal loans from people they would rather not be in debt to.
Charities have warned for months that the gap between what energy still costs and what households can realistically afford has not closed, even after the headline price cap eased from its peak. Standing charges, repayment plans and catch-up bills are quietly piling on top of everyday usage.
According to the reporting, some bill payers are skipping meals, switching off heating in cold weather or selling possessions to chip away at what they owe their supplier. Others are simply ignoring letters because they do not know what else to do.
Debt advice groups say the £4.3 billion figure is not just a number on a spreadsheet. It reflects pensioners rationing hot water, parents going without so the kids can have a warm bath, and working families who once felt comfortable now juggling final demands.
Anyone struggling is being urged to speak to their energy supplier before debts spiral further. Free help is available from Citizens Advice and StepChange, and households on certain benefits may qualify for hardship grants, repayment holidays or the Warm Home Discount.
Ministers are facing fresh pressure to act on standing charges and targeted bill support before next winter, with campaigners warning the debt mountain will keep growing unless something gives.