Almost half of adults in the UK are worried about paying their energy bills, as rising living costs continue to put pressure on household finances and fuel calls for urgent government support.
New data from StepChange shows that 45% of adults — around 24 million people — are concerned about affording their energy bills over the next six months, up sharply from 29% in January.
Many households are already taking steps to cope. Around 58% of adults said they had cut back on energy use in the past three months, rising to 74% among those most worried about their ability to pay.
Financial pressure is also extending beyond energy. The survey found that 28% of adults in England and Wales are concerned about paying their water bills. Among those with water meters, 41% have tried to reduce usage, including cutting back on showers and washing clothes less frequently.
The findings come as StepChange calls for a national social tariff to support vulnerable households with both energy and water costs. Vikki Brownridge said many people are now struggling with everyday expenses rather than one-off financial shocks, as rising bills and existing debts continue to strain budgets.
Energy prices fell by 7% from April under the latest cap set by Ofgem, bringing the average annual bill to £1,641. However, this remains far higher than pre-2021 levels, and forecasts suggest prices could rise again by about 12% in July due to volatility in global energy markets.
Water bills are also increasing, with average costs across England and Wales rising by 5.4%, and some regions facing even steeper hikes.
Around 2.5 million households are currently eligible for discounted social tariffs, but campaigners warn that more support may be needed as financial pressures continue to build.