– Price cap rises by £3 a year for a typical household from January, Ofgem announces
– 60% of Welsh adults say they expect to ration their energy over the next three months
– 61% of adults in Wales are worried about energy costs this upcoming winter
New polling by fuel poverty charity National Energy Action Cymru finds that six in ten (60%) adults in Wales say they will likely ration their energy in the coming three months².
These findings demonstrate the impact fuel poverty is having on households across Wales days ahead of National Energy Action’s Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (26 November) and just as the new energy price cap for January rises 0.2%.
A higher proportion of adults in Wales (60%) expect to ration their energy in the next three months, when compared to in January this year (56%)³. Worryingly, three-quarters (75%) of Welsh adults with a mental health condition and 66% of those with asthma say they are likely to ration their energy.
Affordability is already a key concern, with just 41% of Welsh adults saying they have been able to comfortably afford their heating bill in the last three months, without needing to ration their heating or make cuts elsewhere. The situation is even worse for those with mental health conditions with only a quarter (24%) saying they could comfortably afford their heating, while just three in 10 (29%) with asthma said the same.
Six in 10 (61%) adults in Wales have also reported they are worried about energy costs this upcoming winter, with those who pay via prepayment meter the most likely to be worried (80%).
National Energy Action Head of Wales Ben Saltmarsh says, ‘Energy bills remain unacceptably high, posing a serious health risk this winter—especially for the most vulnerable households across Wales. Families continue to ration heating and cut back on essentials, leaving many deeply anxious about the winter ahead.
‘Energy debt has also reached overwhelming levels. Ofgem’s proposals to ease the burden are welcome, but more support will be needed. The UK Government must structurally reduce fuel poverty through implementing its Warm Homes Plan in full, focused on those in greatest jeopardy from cold, damp and unhealthy homes. And ahead of the Senedd elections, every Welsh political party should commit to a bold programme of investment—making the homes of those most in need warmer, greener, and healthier places to live for current and future generations.’
Fuel Poverty Awareness Day
Six million children in the UK are living in cold, damp homes with parents or guardians who are struggling to afford the basic cost of energy, with winter just around the corner. On Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (26 November), National Energy Action is highlighting the plight of these children and how their health, comfort and life chances are put at risk, simply from living in a cold home.
On the day, National Energy Action and supporters will highlight the living experience of children who live in cold homes, campaign for more support and highlight the solutions to fuel poverty.
Find out more: www.nea.org.uk/who-we-are/nea-campaigns/fpad/
ENDS
Notes to editors
National Energy Action (NEA), is the national fuel poverty charity, working across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to improve the lives of people in fuel poverty. We directly support people with energy and income maximisation advice, and we advocate on issues such as the current energy crisis and the need to improve the energy efficiency of our homes. See: www.nea.org.uk.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,506 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 10th – 17th November 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in Wales (aged 18+).
If this goes online, please link to https://www.nea.org.uk/energy-crisis/. We are on Twitter/X: @NEA_Cymru and Bluesky: @nea-cymru.bsky.social.
