Overview

• Households behind on energy bills with no repayment plan have more than tripled since 2012 to over one million for electricity and 900,000 for gas by the end of 2024.
• The average arrear per customer rose to about £1,600 for electricity and £1,400 for gas, up from roughly £500 in 2012.
• Council tax arrears in England increased from £4.6 billion in 2019/20 to £6.7 billion in 2024/25, deepening strain on low-income families.
• Debts are concentrated in the poorest fifth of households, with 18% behind on at least one priority bill, driven in part by gas unit costs around 50% higher than before the energy crisis.
• Debt charity StepChange reports over two-in-five clients in energy arrears averaging above £2,300 and calls for a debt-relief scheme and council tax reform, with energy bills scheduled to rise again from October 1 under the price cap.