Energy bills are set to increase twice in the coming months. The government-imposed energy price cap, which limits how much suppliers can charge households, will rise by 4% in October, from £1,668 to £1,723. A further increase of up to £400 is possible in January for customers not on fixed deals. According to Energy UK, a trade body representing energy firms, energy debt has reached a record £6 billion, with more than three million households now in debt or in arrears. The group warns that this could rise to £7 billion by the end of the year, with the average debt per affected household around £1,800. These figures are based on unpaid bills for over 30 days, while official statistics from Ofgem, the energy regulator, consider a household in debt only after 90 days of unpaid bills. Combined energy debt and arrears reached £4.79 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 5% from three months earlier and 15% compared to the same period in 2025. Energy debt is not evenly distributed across all households. Research by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition found that 14.3% of single-parent families, 9.5% of Black, African, Caribbean, and Black British households, and 6.6% of households with a disabled person are behind on their energy bills. StepChange, a debt charity, reported that the average energy arrears among its clients reached £2,673 in the first half of 2026, an increase of more than £200 compared to the previous year. Citizens Advice estimates that 3.5 million households are currently in energy debt, including those who have fallen behind on payments and those who can no longer afford to top up prepayment meters. Only 19% of those in energy debt have been contacted by their energy supplier with offers of support. For households struggling with energy bills, it is advised to contact their energy supplier to discuss an affordable repayment plan and explore available support. The Warm Home Discount, a government initiative, offers eligible households £150 toward their electricity costs. Eligibility is based on receiving certain means-tested benefits. Charities such as StepChange and Citizens Advice provide free debt advice and can help individuals assess their financial situation and find solutions. Energy UK is calling for a new "social discount" to reduce bills for the most vulnerable households, along with the wider use of smart prepayment meters and new rules to prevent debt accumulation when people move homes. The trade body estimates that bad debt is already adding about £50 a year to the average dual-fuel customer's bill. Campaigners, including Disability Rights UK and the Disability Poverty Campaign Group, are also pushing for an energy social tariff, which would make energy cheaper for eligible households, rather than just offering discounts on their bills. There is also growing pressure to finally introduce the long-delayed Debt Relief Scheme (DRS), which was first proposed over two years ago. The Ofgem scheme aims to help households with energy debt from the 2022-24 energy crisis. Delays have been due to legislative challenges and data-sharing issues. Energy UK, Citizens Advice, and the End Fuel Poverty Coalition are urging the government to implement the scheme as soon as possible, with funding coming from energy company profits rather than increasing customer bills.