ChartJavascript is required to render chart Number of accounts in arrears where there is no arrangement to repay the debt.Source: Vulnerability Report 2019.Information correct as of: September 2019 This chart shows the total number of domestic gas and electricity customers who are in arrears, but have no debt repayment arrangement between Q3 2012 and Q4 2018. We only hold data related to debts that are being repaid for the period prior to quarter three 2012. Policy Areas:Domestic consumers Data Table Number of accounts in arrears where there is no arrangement to repay the debt Gas Electricity Q3 2012 399,183 464,197 Q4 2012 392,384 457,853 Q1 2013 407,462 495,902 Q2 2013 446,920 522,363 Q3 2013 453,115 520,274 Q4 2013 445,163 513,438 Q1 2014 432,850 496,390 Q2 2014 472,528 547,847 Q3 2014 472,386 567,467 Q4 2014 472,533 547,855 Q1 2015 419,614 532,988 Q2 2015 434,412 537,579 Q3 2015 420,738 517,783 Q4 2015 400,488 483,245 Q1 2016 378,432 476,224 Q2 2016 402,372 499,547 Q3 2016 409,539 525,846 Q4 2016 388,287 508,349 Q1 2017 381,877 509,789 Q2 2017 420,173 547,806 Q3 2017 424,349 555,975 Q4 2017 455,822 595,996 Q1 2018448,886596,008 Q2 2018497,442651,869 Q3 2018517,529647,894 Q4 2018505,314648,429 More information At-a-glance summary Customers in arrears are customers who owe a debt to their supplier, but do not yet have a debt repayment arrangement in place. The number of customers in arrears grew slowly from when we started collecting data in 2012, to a peak in 2014 (at over 2% of electricity and gas customers). Since then it decreased slowly until Q1 2017, and started to edge back up, passing the 2014 peak in Q4 2017 in electricity and Q2 2018 in gas. Relevance and further information There continues to be a seasonal pattern to energy debt. Debt generally falls towards the end of the year, when customers that pay quarterly are billed for the warmer months. It then rises in the spring when customers that pay quarterly fall into arrears following higher energy usage during the winter months. Methodology These are accounts that have had a bill issued which remains unpaid for longer than 91 days/13 weeks where a formal arrangement to repay the debt has not been agreed. Date correct September 2019 Policy area Domestic consumers
