People struggling with energy bill arrears have been reminded to engage with their supplier to manage the debt without being cut off. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PAPeople who have built up arrears on their energy bills over the winter months have been reminded that there are protections in place to stop them being disconnected.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities has stressed that suppliers will not disconnect customers who engage with them and that suppliers must provide every opportunity to customers to avoid disconnection. The CRU is encouraging all domestic customers who may have built up any arrears during the winter period to proactively talk to their supplier to arrange a repayment plan. Suppliers are required to provide affordable and reasonable options to allow customers to reduce any arrears.
Among the options that suppliers must offer are help with payment plans. They must also show a willingness to engage with a money adviser acting on behalf of a customer and offer customers prepayment meters or budget controllers.