Over 2 million households in UK cannot fully pay energy bills

The number of UK households in arrears on their energy bills soared to record levels in the second quarter of this year, with more than two million behind on their electricity payments.

Data from the energy regulator Ofgem shows that at the end of June, 2,347,511 households were behind on their electricity bills and 1,858,585 on their gas bills, The Guardian reports. Both totals rose by about a quarter in just three months, and by almost two-thirds since the end of 2020.

The news comes days after Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, announced that the cap on energy unit costs would last only six months instead of the planned two years. Hunt said a targeted scheme would replace it from April, but provided few details.

Peter Smith, director of policy and advocacy at National Energy Action, said: “With over two million households already in arrears with their energy bills, it is deeply worrying but not unsurprising. Bills have almost doubled in a year, and we haven’t yet seen the full impact of the latest price increase.

“We’re also now approaching winter and as temperatures drop many people are afraid to turn the heating on or even keep the lights on. It’s going to be a bleak and cold winter for the most vulnerable and unless the new prime minister acts urgently we would expect the number of households in arrears to increase yet again next year.”