Recommendation 19

Alongside a rise in energy prices, Ofgem statistics from June 2024 show the total owed by domestic consumers for both electricity and gas was over £3.7 billion compared with £1.8 billion at the end of 2021.51 A report by Clear Consultancy Services suggested that millions of people are living in cold conditions and cutting back on essential costs such as food; and concluded that “energy is the fastest growing type of debt presenting at debt advice services”.52 The same report also concluded that the value of energy debts rose by 33% between 2022–23 and 2023–24.53 It also suggested that “the majority of debt advisers said that energy suppliers are the worst, or one of the worst, categories of creditors that they deal with.” 44 Q 32; C&AG’s Report, infographic on page 6 45 C&AG’s Report, para 9; Q 28 46 Qq 32, 33 47 Qq 42, 43 48 C&AG’s Report, para 4.7 49 Qq 44, 45 50 EBS0002 51 C&AG’s Report, para 4.6 52 Clear Consultancy Services, Supporting households in energy debt, February 2025 53 Clear Consultancy Services, Supporting households in energy debt, February 2025 12