Eight in 10 Scots worried about soaring energy prices, poll finds

More than eight in 10 Scots are worried about soaring energy bills despite measures designed to take the sting out of the cost of living crisis.

Some 84% of adults north of the border told YouGov pollsters they are concerned about the huge rise in electricity and gas prices set for April, with almost half telling the Citizens Advice Scotland (Cas) survey they are very concerned.

Kate Morrison, fair markets spokesperson at Cas, warned the “cost of living crisis threatens to squeeze household budgets to breaking point”.

She added: “With energy bills set to soar, lots of us are worried about the impact that will have on household budgets, but what is especially concerning here is that even taking into account the support people will get from both the Scottish and UK governments, people are still worried about struggling.”

Ofgem, the energy regulator, announced the amount customers pay per unit of energy would rise by more than 50% from April 1. The average home will see bills shoot up by £693.

Measures by the UK and Scottish governments will see bills reduced for most customers by around half, but Ms Morrison said this does not go far enough.

“Most people will still be facing bills of around £350 a year more even if the support schemes reach everyone effectively, clearly for many that simply remains too much and as this is an average figure for some it could be much higher,” she said.

“This cost of living crisis threatens to squeeze household budgets to breaking point, and bluntly the scale of support from policymakers isn’t going to help enough.

“People were already struggling before the rise, with around half a million people in Scotland having to cut back on food to deal with unaffordable bills.”

Of the poll of 1,001 adults in Scotland, only 12% said they are not concerned about the price rises.

Forty-nine per cent said they are very concerned and 35 said they are fairly concerned.

Households across the country are facing the highest inflation for nearly 30 years, with the Bank of England warning inflation could rocket to 7.25% – the highest since August 1991.

The Consumer Prices Index records inflation at 5.5%, but it is hoped inflation will start to fall back in the second half of 2022, though it will not be until next year that CPI gets back to the bank’s 2% target.

Energy prices could go up again within the next six months after Ofgem handed itself new powers to make emergency changes to the price cap.

Ms Morrison urged Scots needing help to contact Cas.

“The network is here to help people. We offer free, impartial and confidential advice and can help you maximise your income,” she said.

“We unlocked £147 million for people during the pandemic and in energy, people who saw a financial gain were on average £272 better off.”