One in eight Scots have fallen behind on their energy bills as households across the country struggle under the weight of mounting debt, new research suggests.
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has now called on the Scottish Government to protect households most at risk, by introducing a £20 million annual fuel poverty crisis fund and called on them to push the energy industry to deliver debt write-off for households.
The findings come as energy costs are set to soar again this summer, with the UK energy regulator Ofgem's price cap rising around 13.5% from July to £1,862 per year adding more than £200 a year to a typical dual-fuel household bill.
It means the price of energy will have risen by 57% since the pre-pandemic annual price level of £1,179.
Polling carried out by Opinium for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition found that 12.1% of Scots surveyed were already in arrears with their energy supplier, while Scots in energy debt owed an average of around £1,030.
The research paints a stark picture of the pressures facing families before the expected increase in bills has even taken effect.
More than one in five Scots surveyed, 22.6%, said worries about energy debt had caused sleepless nights.
Among Scots worried about energy debt or already behind on payments, more than one in six, 17.1%, said they had used a food bank during the past year, while 14.7% said they had missed rent or mortgage payments.
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to Ofgem demanding tougher standards on debt collection and stronger protections for customers who fall behind.
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The groups want suppliers to be required to refer customers for debt advice within a set timeframe and for performance information to be published so consumers can compare how firms treat struggling households.
Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: "These figures lay bare the true cost of years of failure to fix energy debt caused by the sharp increases in bills.
"Advice services, foodbanks, housing associations and community groups are seeing rising costs and static funding in the face of surging demand due to debt, self-disconnection and affordability pressure.
"To protect these vital services, the next Scottish Government must provide multi-year funding agreements for organisations to deliver and to help ensure support for workforce capacity.
"Through direct engagement, and by influencing Ofgem and UK ministers, the Scottish Government must ensure suppliers provide rapid and accessible routes for advice organisations to help resolve customer issues."
The survey also raised concerns about borrowing, finding that 7.4% of Scots surveyed had used an informal or unregulated lender, while 9.7% said they owed money to somebody who made them feel scared.
The debt burden facing households has become one of the biggest legacies of the energy crisis that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Wholesale gas prices surged after the outbreak of the war, sending household bills to record levels and leaving many families struggling to keep up with payments.
Although prices later eased from their peak, large amounts of debt built up during the crisis remain unpaid.
Consumer groups have repeatedly warned that many households are still carrying debts accumulated during the worst of the cost-of-living squeeze.
Frazer Scott, chief executive of Energy Action Scotland commented: "Far too many households in Scotland are saddled with debt to their energy suppliers which they simply cannot repay. Government, and its energy regulator have provided no effective plan to reduce this debt and help to keep people warm and safe in their homes.
“Persistently high energy costs means that basic levels of comfort are unaffordable for those on the lowest incomes or for people who have unavoidably high consumption needs because of age or disability or medical condition. This level of energy should never be out of reach."
The latest Scottish figures suggest those debts continue to have consequences far beyond energy bills themselves.
Alongside foodbank use and missed housing payments, Scottish respondents reported significant impacts on both physical and mental wellbeing.
Among Scots surveyed, around 22% said energy bills or arrears had affected their mental health, while 19% reported impacts on their physical health.
A further 14% said energy debt had affected the health and wellbeing of their children.
Market prices rose sharply earlier this year amid tensions in the Middle East and concerns over disruption to global energy supplies.
While prices have fallen back from their highest levels, analysts have warned they remain significantly above normal levels.
For families already struggling with debt, campaigners fear another increase could push more households into financial difficulty ahead of winter.
Eva Watkinson, head of campaigns at Debt Justice, said: "The Government cannot continue to ignore the energy debt crisis and must prioritise the launch of its long-promised debt relief scheme."
She added: "People should not be forced to pay twice for a crisis they did not create."
The issue remains controversial after major energy firms reported strong profits while households continued to struggle with high costs.
Energy minister Stephen Gethins said: “In an energy rich country like Scotland, nobody should be struggling to pay their bills – and the fact that so many are shows the fundamental problem with having control of Scotland’s energy resources in the hands of the UK Government.
“Just two years ago the UK Government came to power promising to cut people’s bills by £300 – yet bills are soaring higher and higher. It is simply not good enough.
“That is why powers over Scotland’s energy must be in Scotland’s hands – so we can make our vast energy wealth work for us and bring down bills.”
A UK government spokesman added: "Tackling the affordability crisis is the government’s number one priority.
“We have taken £150 of costs off energy bills for the years ahead and extended the Warm Home Discount to around six million households.
“Ofgem is considering a range of options to reduce energy debt in the system and we are working with them to understand the impacts of different approaches on consumers.”
