Two-thirds of UK consumers concerned about increased energy prices finds Post Office poll

• Two in three UK consumers are either extremely concerned about increased energy prices (35%) or very concerned (30%)
• 63% of UK consumers are aware of the increase in the energy price cap
• Almost 4 in 10 people aware that their energy bill is increasing say they will look at their overall finance and budgeting to deal with the increase
• Post Office advises energy customers who are budgeting over the Winter that bills and gas or electricity top up cards can be paid in cash at branches or at Payzone outlets; or to contact Citizen’s Advice for help and advice
• Postmasters have seen increase in customers who have been moved to another energy provider visit with queries about paying their bills at the branch

Two-thirds of UK consumers are concerned about increased energy prices finds a new Post Office poll.

Of those surveyed, 35% of UK consumers are extremely concerned about increased energy prices and 30% are very concerned.

Six in ten people are aware of the increase in the energy price cap.* On 29 October, Ofgem announced it would conduct a consultation on how to cap bills. **

While one in four consumers (24%) have changed or plan to change their energy supplier, almost four in ten people (37%) who are aware that their energy bill is increasing say that they will look at their overall finance and budgeting to deal with the increase.

Post Office advises anyone who is budgeting this Winter to deal with rising energy bills, particularly those who use cash to budget, that bills or gas and electricity top cards for a wide range of energy and utility companies can be paid in cash at 11,500 Post Offices or at 13,000 of its Payzone outlets across the UK.

Martin Kearsley, Banking and Bill Payments Director, said:

“For many people rising energy bills are a big concern and Postmasters have increasingly been getting queries from customers about help with budgeting when paying bills in branch. Budgeting with cash is a tried and tested way of managing finances. For some, they may never have considered using cash to pay a bill. Our branches, run by knowledgeable Postmasters, and Payzone outlets located in convenience stores, are open long hours and often seven days a week. They provide a convenient location to pay bills or top up energy cards whilst at the same time doing other everyday banking transactions or picking up essential household items.”

Post Office guide for customers with concerns about energy prices

Should an energy company go out of business, customers will still have access to gas and electricity. The energy regulator Ofgem will arrange for customers to be transferred to another supplier.

If a supplier goes out of business, customers should:

• take meter readings - it’s useful to take a photo of meter readings too
• keep any old bills - these can help prove payment history, credit balance or debt
• make a note of the account balance – this is on the most recent account statement

Post Office advises customers with concerns about energy prices or difficulties with paying a bill to contact their energy supplier directly in the first instance. A customer could be entitled to a Warm Home Discount. This entitles eligible customers for £140 off their energy bills between October and March. This money is designed to be taken off energy bills, not given out in cash. Post Office processes around 500,000 of these payments each winter. Alternatively, Post Office advises that customers contact Citizens Advice for help and advice.

Customers of British Gas, E.ON; E.ON Next, EDF, renewable electricity provider bright and Airtricity SSE can pay bills at Post Office’s 11,500 branches across the UK. This can also be done at 13,000 Payzone outlets which are typically located in convenience stores. Pre-paid energy top-ups for a range of companies can also be done at both Post Offices and Payzone outlets. Full details can be found at postoffice.co.uk/bill-payments

The combined Post Office and Payzone estate provides 24,000 outlets where energy bills and top cards can be paid for in cash. As well as being able to top up at a Post Office run by an independent Postmaster or at a convenience store with a Payzone terminal and run by an independent operator, energy customers can also pay their bills at locations operated by strategic partners including Tesco, Co Op, Spar, McColls and WH Smiths.

Ends

Fieldwork for this Post Office poll took place between 8^th-15^th October, among a nationally representative sample of 2,007 UK consumers aged 16+ online. Research was conducted in partnership with Dynata.

* The energy price cap does not apply if a customer is on a fixed-term energy tariff or have chosen a standard variable green energy tariff Ofgem has exempted from the cap https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/check-if-energy-price-cap-affects-you

** https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/rising-wholesale-energy-prices-and-implications-regulatory-framework