Two thirds of households not confident on energy bill affordability

8th September 2022 Consumer Collections | #vulnerability

Before further government measures are expected to be announced later today (Thursday 8th September) new data from Comparethemarket has revealed that one in two households (56%) are not confident they will be able to afford energy bills this winter, rising to two-thirds of families (64%) with children at home. Households say, on average, they will…

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One in ten households in arrears on energy bills

5th September 2022 Arrears and Recoveries | #energy debt

Between April and June 2022, the number of households falling behind on their utility bills grew by 14% (295,000), to hit 2.7 million, or one in 10 UK households, according to new figures released by credit reference agency Equifax. On 1st April 2022, Ofgem increased the energy price cap from £1,277 to £1,971. In the…

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Over 12 million households face fuel poverty

5th September 2022 Consumer Collections | #energy debt

Over 12 million households (42%) across the UK face fuel poverty this winter, according to a forecast by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition. The estimates take into account support announced by the Government so far and are historically reflective of the definitions of fuel poverty used in official statistics. From the price cap rise on 1st…

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Working from home could add £131 a month to energy bills

1st September 2022 Consumer Collections | #energy bill

Employees will pay an extra £131 a month in energy costs to work from home this autumn, meaning that those who spend less than £30 on their weekly commute could save money by going to their workplace according to new analysis from Uswitch.com. A typical household will run up a £363 monthly bill for gas…

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New PM must think the unthinkable on energy bills support

A new report from the Resolution Foundation has examined the impact of rising energy bills on low, middle and high-income households this winter, with the price cap forecast to hit £3,600 in October and top £4,500 in January. The report notes typical energy bills will cost around £2,000 more this year than last year –…

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Energy price cap rises to £3,549 – industry reaction

26th August 2022 Consumer Collections | #energy

Ofgem has announced the energy price cap will increase to £3,549 per year for dual fuel for an average household from 1st October 2022. The increase is up 80% from the current cap of £1,971, and up 178% from the £1,277 cap in March this year. The price cap increase comes as Ofgem’s CEO warns…

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Money Statistics: August 2022

26th August 2022 Arrears and Recoveries |

Here is an overview of The Money Charity’s latest statistics for August 2022 Personal debt in the UK People in the UK owed £1,805.7 billion at the end of June 2022. The average total debt per household, including mortgages, was £64,970 and per adult was £34,140, around 108.4% of average earnings. Net mortgage lending rose by…

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Shell Energy Retail to refund £537,000 to customers after price cap overcharging

Shell Energy Retail is to refund and compensate 11,275 prepayment customer accounts it has overcharged on its default tariffs. The total amount of customer detriment to be refunded is £106,000. Refunds will be issued automatically to affected customers. In addition, the supplier will pay £400,000 to Ofgem’s voluntary consumer redress fund and £30,970 in goodwill…

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Energy bills predicted to hit £5,300 a year next April

23rd August 2022 Consumer Collections | #energy bills

Energy bills could hit £5,300 a year by next April according to predictions by Cornwall Insight. The research has found that households will face an 80% rise in bills going into the winter period when energy use soars. The predictions show a typical household will be paying £3,553 equivalent per year for their energy bills.…

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Elderly widows set to endure fuel poverty even after energy costs help

 New analysis by consultants LCP of detailed data on household spending patterns suggests that many elderly widows and those on pension credit were already at high risk of living in fuel poverty even before the surge in energy bills in recent years.  Even if the government comes up with additional help to cover increased bills,…

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October price cap rise will leave 13 million in arrears

18th August 2022 Arrears and Recoveries | #energy

New analysis from Citizens Advice has indicated that one in four (24%) people won’t be able to afford to pay their energy bills in October based on current forecasts. This is double the number already in the red ahead of the price cap rise. The figure could jump to one in three(34%) people in January…

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Government needs £12bn to maintain value of household support package

The Government would need to find £12 billion simply to achieve what it was aiming to do with the £24 billion package announced in May according to new analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), funded by the Nuffield Foundation as part of the forthcoming IFS Green Budget. The analysis says that the figures…

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Energy bills will cost two months’ wages next year

New analysis published by the TUC has shown that energy bills are now expected to cost more than two months of average take-home pay in 2023 – without government intervention. Average take-home pay (after tax) will be £2,054 per month in 2023 based on Bank of England forecasts, so at £4,108, two months’ pay will…

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