More than 300,000 electricity customers and almost 176,000 gas customers are now in arrears on their bills.
Earlier this week, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) warned the number of energy customers in arrears 'could spike' with no energy credits expected in this year's Budget.
So what happens if you find yourself in arrears, what are the best ways to avoid it and is customer loyalty rewarded?
The CRU has introduced a range of support measures to protect energy customers this winter.
These include a disconnection moratorium, a repayment plan, and other measures and assistance.
Under the CRU's code of conduct no one is allowed to be disconnected if they're actively engaging with their supplier to pay their bills.
Outside of the CRU supports, Daragh Cassidy - head of Communications at bonkers.ie - recommends looking into Social Welfare supports and the option of switching and saving if you are not in arrears but struggling with costs.
"It is absolutely easy to switch and you could get a discount of maybe 20% or 30% for an entire year," said Mr Cassidy.
"If someone was using an average amount of electricity they could save over €400 a year and if they were switching their gas as well they could save around maybe €700 to €800 a year," he said.
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It does not look as if there's going to be any energy credits this year but Mr Cassidy noted that the saving by switching is the equivalent of your energy credit.
"We got €250 last year, €450 the winter before that, and that is both those sums combined," he added.
"People will often ask what's the Government doing to combat high energy prices, what is the energy sector doing, but people have the power themselves to really make a difference by switching and saving and reducing the cost of their bills," he said.
It is also prudent to re-evaluate other bills you might be paying and if loyalty to a company is paying off, or are 'newbies' getting a better deal.
Energy is not the only area people can save, with back to school costs and the run up to but the run up to Christmas its a good time of year to review budgets.
"The back to school period is a good time to review where people are with their finances, I would argue there isn't a bill that people shouldn't be looking at switching and saving," said Mr Cassidy.
"Some TV packages and broadband packages are now €80, €90 or €100 a month, by switching you could halve that so save maybe €400 to €500 a year, if you have a mobile phone and you don't need to upgrade then switching to a SIM only deal for only €10 or €12 year or a month is another good way to save," he said.
"Obviously your car insurance, your home insurance, and your mortgage as well," he added.
"Your mortgage is a bigger bill but the potential savings are greater, it is a more come tricky bill to switch and it's not something everyone's going to do every year, but I really encourage people to at least once during the term of their mortgage," Mr Cassidy stated.
