Research topic
Gas and electricity costs, prepayment meters and energy hardship.
£4.79 billion
Total domestic energy debt and arrears in the Great Britain energy market reached £4.79 billion.
Source: Ofgem — Consumer vulnerability strategy progress report
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 12 August 2026
View original source13%
For a typical dual-fuel Direct Debit household, Ofgem's price cap increased by 13% for the July–September 2026 cap period.
Source: Ofgem — Changes to energy price cap between 1 July and 30 September 2026
Period: 1 July–30 September 2026
Last checked: 12 August 2026
View original source40%
40% of electricity customers repaying debt did so through a prepayment meter, down from 47% one year earlier.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 12 August 2026
View original source£4.55 billion
Total domestic energy customer debt and arrears existing more than 91 days was £4.55 billion in Q4 2025.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q4 2025
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source5%
Total domestic energy customer debt and arrears rose by 5% from Q4 2025 to Q1 2026.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q4 2025 to Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source15%
Total domestic energy customer debt and arrears rose by 15% from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2025 to Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source851,701
851,701 domestic electricity customers in Great Britain were repaying an energy debt under a repayment arrangement in Q1 2026 — 2.9% of electricity customers.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source2.9%
2.9% of domestic electricity customers in Great Britain were repaying an energy debt in Q1 2026.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source709,838
709,838 domestic gas customers in Great Britain were repaying an energy debt under a repayment arrangement in Q1 2026 — 2.9% of gas customers.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source2.9%
2.9% of domestic gas customers in Great Britain were repaying an energy debt in Q1 2026.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source1,132,348
1,132,348 domestic electricity customers in Great Britain were in arrears without a repayment arrangement in Q1 2026 — 3.8% of electricity customers.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source3.8%
3.8% of domestic electricity customers in Great Britain were in arrears without a repayment arrangement in Q1 2026.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source908,840
908,840 domestic gas customers in Great Britain were in arrears without a repayment arrangement in Q1 2026 — 3.7% of gas customers.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source3.7%
3.7% of domestic gas customers in Great Britain were in arrears without a repayment arrangement in Q1 2026.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source£828
The average electricity debt held by domestic customers on a repayment arrangement in Great Britain was £828 in Q1 2026.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source£679
The average gas debt held by domestic customers on a repayment arrangement in Great Britain was £679 in Q1 2026.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source40%
40% of domestic electricity customers repaying an energy debt in Great Britain were on a prepayment meter in Q1 2026.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original source37%
37% of domestic gas customers repaying an energy debt in Great Britain were on a prepayment meter in Q1 2026.
Source: Ofgem — Debt and arrears indicators
Period: Q1 2026
Last checked: 13 August 2026
View original sourceDomestic energy debt reaches £4.79 billion
Total domestic energy debt and arrears in the Great Britain energy market.
Great Britain energy market · Q1 2026 · Source data: Ofgem
Energy debt and arrears by fuel, Q1 2026
Domestic electricity and gas customers repaying an energy debt, and customers in arrears without a repayment arrangement, as published by Ofgem for Q1 2026.
Great Britain · Q1 2026 · Source data: Ofgem
61%
Among adults reporting an increased cost of living, 61% cited gas or electricity bills.
Source: Office for National Statistics — Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: May 2026
Period: May 2026
Last checked: 12 August 2026
View original source35%
35% of adults said they were using less gas or electricity at home because of rising living costs.
Source: Office for National Statistics — Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: May 2026
Period: May 2026
Last checked: 12 August 2026
View original sourceFifty verified official statistics on cost of living, inflation, incomes and savings, Universal Credit, disability support, rent, energy debt and consumer credit. Each record carries its original source, reference period and last-checked date.
uk · 2026 reference periods (see each record) · Updated 12 August 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Department for Work and Pensions, Ofgem and Bank of England — Official UK statistical releases, compiled by SupportFund
Period: 2026 reference periods (see each record)
Last checked: 12 August 2026
SupportFund, UK Household Finance Statistics 2026, accessed 6 September 2026. https://supportfund.co.uk/media/data/energy
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