Financial Times: Households sink deeper into energy debt

Households are more indebted to energy companies now than they were a year ago as families struggle to cope with bills that have doubled in five years.

A third of households who were already behind on payments have fallen farther into the red, according to an annual survey by uSwitch, the comparison service, and YouGov, the market research agency

Sharp price rises by the largest energy companies have raised average domestic gas and electricity bills by £183 in the past year.

Up to 4m households may be in debt to their energy suppliers, said uSwitch, but only a fifth of those questioned had arranged a formal repayment plan. The rest hope to pay what they owe without outside help.  MORE