Kevin PeacheyCost of living correspondent
Getty Images
A rise in gas and electricity prices has prompted energy suppliers to call for “enduring” targeted support for those in financial difficulty.
Energy costs are up 2% from Wednesday for millions of people in England, Wales and Scotland as regulator Ofgem’s latest price cap come into effect.
Campaigners say many will struggle with another winter of relatively high bills, with a record £4.4bn owed to suppliers by their customers, recent official figures reveal.
The government said it was taking “urgent action” to support vulnerable families this winter.
Some companies have schemes in place to write off debt or offer emergency vouchers, but these measures vary across the sector.
“The level of…