ENERGY bills are unaffordable for more than one in 10 Scots, according to a report by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS).

The survey of 3,505 people found 12 per cent consider energy prices too expensive, with increasing numbers of consumers switching to smaller, cheaper suppliers.

The report also found fewer Scots are using electricity to heat their homes, with a shift towards gas, accounting for 73 per cent of homes.

Use of electric heating as the primary source of heating was highest in Glasgow, where 22 per cent of respondents use it, and north-east Scotland, where 20 per cent reported it as their primary heat source.

Dr Jamie Stewart from CAS said: “It’s notable that more than one in 10 consumers feel their bills are unaffordable.

“Our report highlights the key divide in the nation, with some appearing to manage the cost of energy while a significant proportion of society continue to struggle.

“We strongly believe that more needs to be done to ensure that the essential service of energy is affordable for everyone in Scotland.”

More than a quarter of respondents said they switched their energy supplier in 2019, up from 21 per cent when CAS began its reports in 2017.