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A spotlight on energy arrears: Who is at risk of falling behind? | Energy UK ​ Members AreaSearch The voice of the energy industry HomeAboutPolicyCustomersEnergy IndustryMedia & CampaignsPublications EventsMembershipContact HomeMedia & CampaignsBlogsA spotlight on energy arrears: Who is at risk of falling behind? A spotlight on energy arrears: Who is at risk of falling behind? Written by Grace Brownfield on 25 July 2018 At StepChange Debt Charity, we help people with a variety of variegated types of debt, including people who have fallen overdue on their household bills. Of everyone we helped in 2017, 2 in 5 were overdue on at least one of these. This included 38,135 people with underage on their electricity snout and 22,186 on their gas.  In our new briefingOverdueon the Basics, we looked at which households were most at risk of falling overdue on their household bills, and why. However, given the ongoing focus on addressing fuel poverty and the welcome steps taken to modernize affordability in the energy sector, we wanted to take a closer squint at what was happening when it came to these bills in particular.   Electricity and gas underage in 2017 When it comes to StepChange clients, we’ve seen a small rise in the proportion who were overdue on their electricity (up from 13.3% in 2013 to 14.3% in 2017). In contrast, the proportion of clients in underage on their gas snout has decreased slightly (from 12.9% in 2013 to 11.5% in 2017). We have moreover seen a gradual increase in the stereotype value of underage that our clients have. Which households were most at risk of falling behind? When we examined the rate of gas and electricity underage by variegated household characteristics - such as age, family composition, income and housing tenure – we found that there were not hugely significant differences between the proportions of clients falling into arrears. This suggests that the focus should protract to be on affordability wideness the board, to help any customers struggling to alimony up. However, there were some small differences which suggested that young people, single parents and those on low and moderate incomes may be increasingly likely to fall into underage than other groups. Ensuring that support reaches these groups is therefore key. We moreover found that people who had an spare vulnerability on top of their financial difficulties – such as a mental health problem, long-term health condition like cancer or a terminal illness – were increasingly likely to be falling behind. A unfurled focus on customers in vulnerable circumstances is therefore vital, and that’s why we so warmly welcome the independently chaired Commission for Customers in Vulnerable Circumstances.   Preventing people from falling overdue on the nuts The experiences of StepChange clients set out inOverdueon theNutsreveal that many are still struggling to get by when it comes to essential household costs. Whilst the incidence of energy underage may be lower than for some other bills, we are would-be that there is still increasingly that can be washed-up to help people alimony up with payments. Initiatives such as the Warm Home Discount and extension of the vulnerable consumer safeguard tariff are important steps, and we moreover know that many providers are working nonflexible to help people in financial difficulty. As ever, it will be important that providers protract to show the towardly forbearance to customers who fall behind, and take proactive steps to identify and (if possible) reduce the bills of those struggling to pay. The energy industry have demonstrated what a difference they can make to customers in financial hardship, and the rencontre now is to alimony growing this support so it reaches everyone who needs it. We squint forward to standing to work with the industry and others to unzip this. Grace Brownfield, Senior Public Policy Advocate, StepChange Debt Charity Press releases201820172016BlogsVideos & Infographics Carbon Monoxide - Be AlarmedEnergy Switch Guarantee SitemapPrivacy and cookiesTerms and Conditions Copyright © 2018 Energy UK Powered by JoomlaWired, built by Webx   HomeAboutAbout usOur membersOur teamOur departments & committeesGovernanceAnnual Report MembershipBenefits and servicesCategoriesJoinCareers pages VacanciesEmployees benefitsEquality and Diversity ForumYoung Energy Professionals ForumPride in EnergyPolicyPolicyCustomer CommunicationsDisconnectionElectricity market reformEnergy efficiencyEnergy Companies Obligation Fuel povertyMicro businessClosed finance with credit balancesRoll-over contractsBack-billingSmart meters Smart Demand ResponseWarm Home DiscountPrepayment metersHealth and safetyGeneration Health and SafetyRetail Health and SafetyEnvironmental RegulationEnvironmental PerformanceIndustry GuidanceWater ResourcesEnergy System TransformationFlexibility in the Energy SystemDecarbonisation of HeatLow Carbon TransportCustomersCustomersCommission for customers in vulnerable circumstancesAbout your energy billEnergy snout breakdownWays to pay your billHelp with your energy bills How to stave disconnectionWarm Home DiscountSave money on energy bills How to switch energy visitor Find out who your energy supplier isClosed finance with credit balances for domestic customers About smart meters Why are smart meters a good idea?How to make a complaint Energy industry codes Code of Practice for Accurate BillsFeed in tariffsWhat happens if my electricity meter behaves unexpectedly?Fraud PreventionEnergy IndustryEnergy IndustryEnergy in the UKThe energy market explainedLighting up BritainAberthaw Power StationDelabole Wind FarmEakring Training CentreGreater Gabbard Wind FarmGreen Skills CentreHealth Through WarmthLangage Power StationLondon Warm ZonePelamis Wave MachinePowerwiseSchools Engineering ChallengeSSE Training CentreSmart Meter CentreWhitelee Wind FarmEnergy efficiency in BritainProfits & pricesNetwork and supplyElectricity generationGas generationGas suppliesShale gasCoal generationNuclear generationRenewable generationSustainabilityPower to everyoneMedia & CampaignsPress releases201820172016BlogsVideos & Infographics Carbon Monoxide - Be AlarmedEnergy Switch GuaranteePublicationsPublications EventsMembershipAbout Energy UKOur ServicesEvents & SponsorshipExamples of Our Campaigns & GroupsCategories of MembershipContactContact Energy UKCold calls Members AreaSearch