Britain's energy customer debt rises 15% to £4.79 billion, though repayment-plan arrears are less than half as large

Total customer debt and arrears owed to energy suppliers in England, Wales and Scotland reached £4.79 billion in the first quarter of the year. The BBC reported that the figure, covering customers in debt for more than three months, rose 15% from the same period a year earlier. Average arrears for customers without a repayment plan stood at £1,876 for electricity and £1,623 for gas.

The BBC reported these amounts were more than twice the levels recorded for customers who had repayment agreements in place. Energy prices will rise for millions of households in July, driven by higher gas costs. The BBC reported that about 22 million people, or roughly 40% of billpayers, are on fixed tariffs that shield them from immediate unit-price changes.

Receiving bills quarterly rather than through monthly direct debit adds about £140 a year to costs, according to the BBC. The report noted there remain about seven million standard credit accounts. Pension credit remains underclaimed and can serve as a gateway to other benefits for older people, the BBC reported.