New figures reveal the toll the energy crisis is taking on Scots households.

Citizens Advice Scotland has received a surge in calls for advice on paying energy bills since December 2022.

In addition, calls for food bank-related advice are at an all-time high.

It is the first time that calls for energy advice have surpassed calls for help with Universal Credit and other benefits since the charity started monitoring monthly advice trends during the pandemic.

The calls have revealed shocking stories of households grappling with the crisis nationwide.

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In one case, a single parent of two children, including a child with disabilities, sought guidance because she couldn't afford energy costs.

Rising bills meant the family had to stop using medical equipment needed for her child's condition, and the child was forced to miss school as a result.

In another case, an elderly couple with health issues reached out for help after their energy supplier refused their repayment offer of £20 plus usage.

The energy supplier issued a warrant to install a prepayment meter, but  Citizens Advice was able to liaise with the supplier and launched an application for the couple with the Home Heating Support Fund.

Glasgow Times:

Advice in relation to regulated fuel made up 15% of all advice in December 2022.

There was an increase in utilities and communications advice (largely relating to energy) of 70% from November 2022, nearly doubling in terms of the amount of advice provided.

The numbers are an increase of 98% from the same time last year.

Online advice given to those facing eviction because their home had been repossessed peaked in December 2022 (since its creation in April 2021), increasing 30% from November and 824% from December 2021.

In December, there were 2,649 pieces of food bank advice issued by Citizens Advice across Scotland.

Derek Mitchell, chief executive of Citizens Advice Scotland, describes the charity as a "wraparound service" that aims to help people through all their problems.

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The largest area of advice demand has historically been with "some form" of social security payments since the 2010s, he says.

He added: “For energy advice to overtake that is a significant moment, and shows the scale of the energy crisis."

During the winter months, people are at risk of rationing energy and "sitting in cold, dark homes" with food bank advice at "an all-time high".

Derek said: "That’s the sickening reality of this crisis, people can’t afford their essential bills and start to cut back elsewhere.

“We are seeing projections that inflation is set to fall later this year but that is no comfort to people making impossible choices between heating and eating now, and we need to seriously consider the legacy this cost of living crisis is going to leave on people – one of debt, poverty and destitution."

People worried about bills or wanting advice are encouraged to reach out to their local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Derek said: "We’re for everyone regardless of if you are in work or not, and our advisers get real results.

"One in six people who sought advice from a CAB last year saw some sort of financial gain, the average value of which was over £4,200. That could be life-changing money this winter.”