UK energy debt hits record £6bn and is set to rise to £7bn
Energy debt in Britain has reached a record £6bn, with forecasts it will rise to £7bn by the end of the year as bills are set to rise again in October.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Energy debt in the UK has reached a record £6 billion, according to Energy UK, the trade body representing suppliers. The figure covers unpaid money owed by households in England, Scotland and Wales, and is expected to grow to £7 billion by the end of the year.
The rise in debt follows the energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which sent bills soaring. Suppliers say high bills are likely to continue because of network upgrades and international pressures on wholesale gas prices.
Households using a typical amount of gas and electricity are expected to see their bills jump by another 4% in October, taking the average annual cost to more than £1,700. That would be the highest level for the price cap in three years.
The scale of the debt is adding to the burden on all bill payers. A household in debt without a repayment plan owes on average £3,500, and covering the collective shortfall adds about £50 to everyone else's annual bill.
The situation is putting pressure on the government to step in. Energy UK is calling for a discounted tariff for the most vulnerable, funded by taxation. The government has pointed to its cut in VAT on electricity bills, but says there is more to do. Official figures due tomorrow are likely to intensify calls for ministers to offer further support.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Energy bills are expected to jump by 4% in October. | |
| Energy debt is expected to rise to £7 billion by the end of the year. | |
| Energy debt reached a record £6 billion. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC ONE West report focuses on the human and political impact of the record debt, using its cost of living correspondent to explain the consequences for households and the wider bill payer. It highlights the expected rise in the price cap and the pressure on the Chancellor to provide more government support, while noting the government's response so far.
- “The amount of unpaid money households in England, Scotland and Wales owe to energy suppliers has reached a record £6 billion.”
- “It says it expects this number to grow to £7 billion by the end of the year.”
- “to cover that cost adds about £50 to everyone's annual bill.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.