Households are being urged to negotiate their bills as customers are now in debt to their supplier by £206 on average.
It comes as some £1.3 billion is owed by households on energy bills, according to Uswitch findings. Separate data from Ofgem has also revealed that around 60,000 homes have had their smart meter remotely switched to prepayment mode - which typically occurs when a customer is accruing debt which they can not feasibly pay back.
This may leave some consumers who are in debt concerned, especially after the energy price cap rises again next April which will see an average household's annual bill moving from £2,500 to £3,000.
Andy Kerr, Founder at BOXT, reminds consumers that it is an energy supplier's duty to find a solution for customers in need. He suggests negotiating a payment plan in which you should provide regular meter readings so that your rates always reflect your usage.
Andy said: “If you’re struggling to afford your energy bills, the first thing you should do is contact your energy supplier to discuss ways to pay them what you owe."
He continues: "Your energy supplier has to help you come to a solution, but ensure you negotiate a deal that works for you and your monthly budget. If you have asked to set up a payment plan, this will include what you owe plus an amount for your current use.
"Your supplier must take into account how much you can afford to pay and how much energy you’ll use in future, so make sure you have your monthly income and outgoings on hand, and also send regular meter readings and or get a smart meter installed so your bill is always based on accurate usage rather than an estimate.
"This means you’re less likely to be overpaying and also don't risk underpaying then getting a big catch-up bill further down the line."
The heating expert also recommends securing any Government financial assistance that may be applicable to you - and in some cases energy suppliers will offer consumers help such as free prepayment credit also. Andy additionally reminds households to keep their boiler in check.
He claims that upgrading a boiler, if it is old and inefficient, can save homeowners as much as £95 per month on their energy bills.
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