by Molly Shevlin, CAS energy spokesperson.

This article was first published in The Herald on 30 May 2026.

“My inbox is full of energy debt issues. There’s just so much. People can’t afford to use energy like they used to and they can’t afford to pay arrears.”  

In a recent conversation with a group of energy advisers from Scottish CABs, this was the opening remark. It was met with nods of recognition from everyone, the unavoidable reality of working in energy advice today. 

My role is to try to influence change, so as global events delivered another blow to a broken energy system, I met with the advisers to get a deeper sense of how things were feeling for them and the people they support. The sense of anxiety about steep increases in the energy price cap from July and beyond was tangible.  

For people coming to local CABs, whose budgets are already beyond stretched, ‘tightening belts’ to afford price increases is impossible. And where costs are unaffordable, rising debt will follow.   

The depth and scale of energy debt across Scotland is already difficult to comprehend. In the first three months of this year alone, the total energy debt that people brought to CABs was £2.7 million – an average of over £2,800 per household, rising to over £3,200 in rural areas.  

Behind these eye-watering numbers are real people.   

People like Jane, who is a full-time carer for her disabled daughter and has essential medical equipment in the home. Her sole income is via social security, which isn’t enough to cover their high energy usage.  

When she came to her local CAB, Jane’s electricity debt was over £12,000. Her supplier had said that to cover her repayments and ongoing costs, she’d need to pay £250 per week, an impossible amount of money on her budget. With the pressure of caring for her daughter, this has taken a profound toll on Jane’s wellbeing.  

And Jane isn’t alone. Across Scotland, people like her spend their days knowing they’re adding to inescapable debt just to meet their essential energy needs. 

This is the legacy and ongoing effect of a seemingly endless energy cost crisis.   

Ofgem announced its plan for a Debt Relief Scheme in the autumn, with the first phase due to go live early this year. At the time of writing, there has been no meaningful progress. People are still waiting for desperately needed relief.  

With every passing day, any benefit of these measures becomes diluted. And the burden of energy debt will worsen as costs surge from July onwards. 

There is an opportunity here for meaningful action that will really help people. But it must be urgent and ambitious. The UK Government and Ofgem must work collaboratively to deliver debt relief without any further delay. And to really tackle the problem, the root cause has to be addressed. A serious approach to energy debt has to be underpinned by lasting measures to cut energy costs for the people least able to afford it. The time to deliver a social tariff is now.  

With joined-up action to break the vicious cycle of high costs and arrears, a more just and compassionate society is possible. One where everyone can afford the essentials we all need without fear of debt, and no one second guesses the flick of every switch. 

The 13% rise in the energy price cap announced today will be devastating for thousands of households across Scotland, according to Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS). 

Responding to the announcement, CAS Chief Executive Derek Mitchell said: 

“This huge rise in the energy price cap is going to be impossible for so many people to absorb. Especially the tens of thousands of people who we know are already struggling to heat and light their homes.  

“In the first three months of 2026, our network saw record levels of energy debt, with the average amount over £2,800. More than £3200 in rural areas.  

“Debt has a devastating impact on peoples physical and mental wellbeing, forcing people to ration their energy use, meaning people are sitting in the cold and dark.  

“It’s tempting to think high energy costs don’t affect people in the summer. Yet last summer we provided over 2,000 emergency fuel vouchers across Scotland. 

“We can’t go on like this. People need support both now and in the long term. Ofgem needs to urgently deliver its long-awaited debt relief scheme and crisis support must be inclusive of those with unavoidable high usage, like disabled people, as well as those on low incomes. 

“The UK Government must act with urgency and ambition to deliver a social tariff for energy - that’s a discount unit rate for those on low incomes and unavoidable high energy usage to guarantee energy affordability. 

“Energy should not be a luxury. In a just and compassionate society, all of us should be able to afford to heat and light our homes.”  

Today CAS published its latest quarterly briefing on energy, which includes case studies. This has been sent to UK and Scottish Government Ministers. 

ENDS 

by Emma Jackson, head of the CAS Social Justice team.

This article was first published in the Herald on 9 May 2026.

"I don’t know where to start..." a phrase our advisers hear all too often as people open up during a first appointment.

Yes, it’s the crisis that’s pushed people almost to breaking point that’s at the forefront of people's minds, but it’s the expertise and empathy of in-person, local advice that can delve beneath the surface, find out what’s really going. Across the Citizens Advice network in Scotland, we know issues rarely happen in isolation.

Ailsa arrived at her local CAB because of energy debt. Terrified of the rising arrears she was accruing, she turned her meter off entirely meaning no lights or heating. Through care and compassion and multiple appointments, Ailsa opened up to her adviser sharing details of health conditions, other debts and difficulties accessing social security. The energy debt a symptom of interconnected issues all compounding to cause her harm.

While Ailsa’s circumstances uniquely impacted her, her experiences are not unique. Across Scotland, tens of thousands of people need to access person centred support from our network. Decades of experience mean our advisers know the domino effect of how one issue creates another. And another. 
Insufficient income means people cannot pay rising energy bills, which doesn’t only add to people’s debt. It increases the likelihood of damp and mould through not turning the heating on. Impacting on health and wellbeing. Potential absences from work. Job loss. Rent arrears. Threatened homelessness. 

For Ailsa, accessing support from her local CAB meant that she could tap into wrap around support. Support to engage with her energy supplier, debt advice, help applying for social security, including a successful adult disability payment award and warm referrals to community support. The totality of her circumstances considered, and solutions in place that worked in harmony to deliver positive outcomes. Alisa told her adviser that after feeling so stressed for so long, it was the first time she didn't have to worry about money in over year.

Delivering solutions that provide positive outcomes for people experiencing the most harm is the opportunity before this new Scottish Parliament and government. As the new cohort of MSPs, cabinet secretaries and first minister are sworn in and parliamentarians set about the work of this next term, finding ways to create the conditions for all of us to thrive should be the priority. 

Policy coherence and portfolio alignment are non-negotiables if this next government is to improve people's lives across Scotland. Just like the work of our network, that means understanding the totality of people's experiences and the interconnected nature of problems. Services and support need to be designed and delivered in a way that mirrors real life and tackle issues at their root cause. We need a real focus on prevention and systems change, backed up with adequate investment that actually makes a difference. The cost of inaction here is far too great.

Yes, the scale of challenge facing the new government is undeniably vast – but so too is size of the opportunity. The chance to do things differently, deliver justice and compassion, so that Ailsa and all of us can live decent and dignified lives. 

Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to the UK Government’s announcement of a shake-up of energy prices.

CAS spokesperson Molly Shevlin said,

“The UK Government needs to be taking action to bring down energy bills so this is a positive step in the long term.

“Any effects of what is being proposed here, however, would not be seen in energy bill reductions for a year. With bills set to skyrocket again in a couple of months’ time, support is desperately needed now.

"Energy affordability is an enduring and year-round issue. Thousands of people across Scotland have been struggling to heat and light their homes for years as a result of high energy costs.

“What we want to see is bold, targeted and urgent action to help those in the most difficult circumstances. Our long-standing call for an affordable social tariff and the introduction of a robust debt write-off scheme must be implemented without any further delay.

“Affordable energy is not a luxury; it is an essential part of the decent, dignified standard of living that we all deserve.”

ENDS

by David Hilferty, CAS Director of Impact.

This article was first published in The Herald on 18 April 2026.

The events unfolding in the Middle East mark the latest escalation in a seemingly never-ending cost-of-living emergency. 

Trying to keep up is dizzying and frantic. Media attention spans are shorter than ever before. Headlines shift. Markets react. Prices  - inevitably it seems – increase.  

The news cycle moves relentlessly from moment to moment. But the people who are supported every day by the Citizens Advice network don’t. They can’t. Instead, they get trapped in moments it can feel impossible to get out of. 

In recent weeks, there has been a noticeable uptick in commentary – podcasts, opinion pieces, social media threads – focused on what individuals can do in response to the cost-of-living emergency. How they should save more. Cut further. Plan more. Cope better. 

This narrative transfers blame from failing systems onto individuals, asking them to compensate for structural problems through personal resilience. It suggests that with just enough effort, households can simply adapt their way out of crisis.  

But this overlooks a fundamental truth: the cost-of-living crisis does not affect everyone equally. 

For people on low incomes, the essentials we all need like food and energy take up a far greater share of the household budget than it does for those better off. 

So for some this latest cost-of-living ‘moment’ might mean the stress of queuing up for petrol. For others it means going to bed hungry so that your kids can eat dinner.  

A few weeks back, the Scottish Government published figures on the number of people in persistent poverty in Scotland – that’s people who were in poverty for at least three of the four years from 2020-24. 

It didn’t dominate the news – it was overshadowed by more immediate headlines and moments. 

But the information was devastating. Over that period, 17% of children in Scotland were in persistent poverty. 

And this resonates with our experience in the front-line of advice services, where we see many people come back year after year needing help.  

That’s not about individual isolated moments, but repeating cycles of poverty, stress, despair.  

With the election campaign now in full swing, one phrase we hear a lot is the need to face up to ‘difficult choices’. 

Yet be in no doubt – the people facing the hardest of choices are those walking through the doors of the Citizens Advice network every day. 

Because after more than a decade of austerity and perma-crisis, we are the last refuge for people who are out of options after rebounding around broken public services and closed doors.  

Their experiences must be heard - especially at election time - to help close that proximity between the people experiencing harm and the people who can end it. 

So a question that must be posed to anyone seeking office across these next weeks is what can be done differently in the next Parliament, to move beyond mitigation into lasting systems change that genuinely lifts living standards? 

For us, a crucial part of that is moving away from this constant fixation on ‘moments’ – and instead reaching for lasting and long-term solutions. 

The opportunity before us is to stop getting stuck in moments of crisis, and instead to get stuck into building systems that work for everyone, all of the time.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has responded to the Chancellor’s comments this morning on potential support for people struggling with energy bills. 

Molly Shevlin, CAS energy spokesperson said, 

“The reduction in the energy price cap from today will be positive news for some, but it provides only temporary respite. Temporary lower costs now are cold comfort to people who have been struggling for years and are facing a potentially devastating surge in prices come July and beyond. 

“The Chancellor has said that any support would be targeted to those on low incomes, but this needs to go beyond that. 

“Disabled people, as well as those in remote and rural communities, face unaffordable energy costs due to unavoidably high usage and are experiencing real harm as a result. They too need support. 

“And that support also needs to be ongoing, not just one-off and reactive. Lasting, impactful solutions are needed, like a social tariff on energy bills and a comprehensive energy debt write-off scheme.  

“Affordable energy is not a luxury; it is an essential part of the decent, dignified standard of living that we all deserve.” 

ENDS

Research by CAS has found that more than half (55%) of people in Scotland have been limiting their use of central heating to save on bills, while almost a quarter (24%) limit using hot water by bathing less or sharing bathing water in an attempt to save energy.  

Of those worried about the rising energy bills and cost of living, (43%) reported that this was affecting their mental health, and more than half (55%) said the cost of their bills impacted their ability to enjoy life.   

The charity’s social justice policy team spoke to people in Leith, Edinburgh recently about how their energy costs have impacted them and to raise awareness of the help local Citizens Advice Bureau can provide. NB names have been changed to protect their identities. 

Helena, a resident of Leith said: 

“Sometimes I have my grandson with me… he is one years old. So, I have to put the heating on and then I am worried about the price I am going to pay. 

“I am all the time controlling the heating and putting jackets on and sweaters on because I am always cold because I don't want to spend. I am spending now just with gas £100 a month and I am not having showers or baths here because I go to the club.” 

Mark told us of the impact his energy costs had on him: “Car’s off the road. That's probably the main one and not been able to afford to put it through its MOT because we're spending more on electricity and gas.” 

Kate, an Edinburgh resident who had recently received help from her local Citizens Advice Bureau said: “They can refer you to different services that can help you with different things, different ways to get help and aid, like the Scottish Winter Fund and stuff like that. You can apply for all that through them. 

“They're very compassionate and caring and they don't judge you at all for being in the position you're in. Like, they just want to help.” 

CAS Director of Impact David Hilferty said, 

“Being unable to afford energy bills is devastating for thousands across Scotland. It's forcing people into unimaginable circumstances. People are losing sleep, rationing hot water and not switching on the lights or heating, even when it’s cold and dark. This is shameful – people should simply not be living like this. 

"And it's not new. Energy bills have been at sky-high levels for years now, and with the war making things worse it's a situation that feels never-ending. Our energy market is completely broken and unable to cope with it, and of course it's all happening in the context of the wider cost of living crisis.  

"We want people who are struggling with their energy costs to know they can contact their local Citizens Advice Bureau for free, confidential and impartial advice or visit www.cas.org.uk/worried.” 

Methodology 

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1064 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 4th - 8th December 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Scotland adults (aged 18+). 

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has responded to the Chancellor’s statement on support for those struggling with high energy bills. 

CAS energy spokesperson Molly Shevlin said, 

“Evidence from across the Scottish Citizens Advice network shows that households are beginning to be impacted by the surge in global energy prices.  

“People coming to our CABs and our Extra Help Unit were already struggling to afford energy bills before this conflict started, and are now even more deeply concerned about how they will cope.   

“We have called for support to be targeted to those most in need, so we welcome that the Chancellor has agreed that in principle. However, it’s essential that this support delivers lasting impact, not just a one-time intervention in moments of crisis.   

“Support must reach people on low incomes, those who have unavoidably high energy usage due to disability, and those that live in rural or island communities. For these households, the current crisis is another blow to already stretched finances.  

“We desperately need an energy system that works for everyone. The need for long-term, consistent support that gives people financial stability and peace of mind is abundantly clear. Now is the time for ambitious action from the UK Government.”   

CAS has called for a social tariff on energy bills and a robust energy debt write-off scheme as parts of a long-term solution to the crisis in energy affordability.    

by Natasha Gilmour, head of the Extra Help Unit at CAS.

This article was first published in The Herald on 21 March 2026.

We have supported more than 3,400 people in crisis since the start of the year. That’s people needing immediate help to keep their homes warm and safe during the coldest and darkest months. The Extra Help Unit is a statutory service delivered by Citizens Advice Scotland, supporting people and small businesses in vulnerable circumstances with energy issues across Great Britain, and with heat networks in Scotland.  

So many of those we’ve helped were struggling with energy debt and affordability. This includes people who have had to go without any heating or electricity. Imagine that for a moment. While spring is around the corner, living in Scotland means most of us still need to pop the heating on. But those who self-disconnect don’t have that option and face many more weeks of misery while sitting in cold, dark homes.  

It’s perhaps no surprise then that when people reach us, they are generally desperate and often exasperated. That’s why the team is trained to listen and respond with compassion and seek to understand how they can best advocate for that person to have the best outcome.  

People often don’t trust energy suppliers or are reluctant to engage or share difficult personal circumstances with them. This is where the value of an independent voice like ours really makes the difference. We bridge the gap and help repair or reset relationships with energy suppliers and help people find a way forward. 

There is currently a lot of discussion about improving the timescales for resolving complaints in the energy market, which is a fair aspiration. However, we believe that putting people first and getting the right outcome should remain the top priority.  

We know that 75% of people using our service have mental or physical health conditions, and in almost 20% of cases, there are children under the age of five in the household. Allowing people the time and space to express the challenges they are facing makes the critical difference in achieving a sustainable resolution.  

You also can’t expect someone in vulnerable circumstances to always be able to deal with a complex billing issue on their own. Or to have knowledge of the energy industry that enables them to challenge and understand whether their supplier is fair and reasonable. Recently, we were contacted by someone who believed they were in debt to their supplier and couldn’t afford to top up their prepayment meter. When we investigated it, we discovered the debt was in fact owed by the previous tenant and the issues had arisen due to the change of tenancy. This error would not have been identified had the person not reached the EHU. 

Untangling complicated issues and de-mystifying the terminology that’s so often used in the industry are all key elements of the EHU service.  

With UK energy debt over £4 billion and rising, it’s more crucial than ever that people get the right support, at the right time, in the right way. That’s what the Citizens Advice network and its EHU deliver, and we’re determined to continue giving people a voice and securing the best outcomes for all.  

Citizens Advice Scotland says the Prime Minister’s announcement of a new package of support will not be sufficient to protect those in the most vulnerable circumstances in Scotland. 

CAS Director of Impact David Hilferty said: 

“Evidence from across the Scottish CAB network shows that surging heating oil prices are already severely impacting households in island and rural communities. People coming to our CABs about this are desperately worried.  

“Those on the lowest incomes in rural and island communities who use oil heating also face other financial challenges like higher travel costs and fewer affordable options for buying essentials like food. The current crisis is another blow to their already stretched finances. 

“Recent events have once again exposed the precarity that is baked into our energy system. The system is broken. Today the focus is on people who use oil to heat their homes, but for gas and electricity users too, the Ofgem price cap is not providing adequate cover and only guaranteed until July. 

“The UK Government must do more. We desperately need an energy system that works for everyone. The need for long-term, consistent support that affords people financial stability and peace of mind is abundantly clear.“ 

CAS has called for a social tariff on energy bills and a robust energy debt write-off scheme.  

ENDS 

Scottish CAB Case study 

Martin lives alone in a rural cottage and has been struggling financially due to credit card debt and a reduced state pension. Last year he received help twice to buy heating oil, and he returned to his local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) recently because rising prices were causing concern. Although he had budgeted for a delivery, he was told the cost had nearly doubled, making it completely unaffordable. With only around 10 days of oil left—if used sparingly—he is now afraid to heat his home, even though it was snowing when he came to his CAB.