The number of people unable to pay their energy bills rose to almost 320,000 in December last year, an increase of almost 20% on the previous year.
According to figures published by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) yesterday, over 50,000 more customers were in energy arrears at the end of last year than in December 2024.
Year on year, the number of people unable to pay the whole of their energy bills rose from 264,458 in December 2024, to 319,459 last December.
The last two months of the year saw a significant jump, from over 303,000 customers in November, to almost 320,000 in December, a rise of over 5% month on month.
A total of 26% of all domestic gas customers were in arrears in December last year, with 14% of electricity customers unable to pay part or all of their bill.
In addition to an increase in the number of customers in arrears, the average amount electricity customers owed increased by 10% year on year, although the amount owed by gas customers fell by 1%.
