Demand has surged as people seek help to make ends meet amid a worsening cost-of-living crisis, while some advisors worry they will have to reduce staff.
Just over a month since the government scrapped low-use power plans, charities say they're being inundated with people struggling to power their electricity bills.
The change means 60 percent of households will pay double for the fixed line component of their energy bill - costing an extra $110 a year.
But as Louise Ternouth reports, the long term cost is being described as 'catastrophic'.
SunLive - Power: charities inundated as people struggle sunlive.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sunlive.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
SunLive - People cutting out food to afford rent and petrol sunlive.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sunlive.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.