ALMOST four million households are in debt to their energy supplier, owing an average of £128, according to a survey.

Debt among the 14 per cent of households that owe money has increased despite the mild winter, following a series of price hikes, the poll by uSwitch found.

The average household energy bill is now £1265 a year, £53 more than a year ago and £793 or 168 per cent higher than in 2004.

A third of those in debt owe more than they did a year ago while nine per cent owe less, the survey found.

A quarter of households are choosing to "turn a blind eye" to their debt in the hope that the amount will decrease over time, 21 per cent intend to pay it off with a lump sum, and 43 per cent plan to increase their direct debit.

However worry over debt is leading almost one in 10 to seek a repayment plan.

Ann Robinson, uSwitch director of consumer policy, said: "This is a clear indication of the extreme pressure families are under to meet the rising cost of energy."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, said: "In December we announced plans that will save customers around £50 on their energy bills, providing support through the ECO scheme for vulnerable households, extending the scheme for an extra two years, and making an additional £450 million to make British homes more energy-efficient.

"This is on top of the support already available to vulnerable households through schemes like the Warm Home Discount, whereby well over one million low- income pensioners will receive £135 off their bill, and Winter Fuel Payments."