What to do about energy arrears

If you’ve fallen behind with your energy bills, the first thing you should do is contact your supplier to try to come to an arrangement.

Energy arrears are a priority debt. This means you need to pay them before non-priority debts like unsecured personal loans.

Find out more about the difference between priority and non-priority debts.  

If you don’t try to come to a payment arrangement with you supplier, they might make you move onto prepayment or threaten to disconnect you.

Find out what to do if your energy supplier is trying to force you onto prepayment.

You may be able to pay off your energy debt directly through your benefits.

Under the fuel direct scheme, a fixed amount will come straight out of your benefits to cover what you owe.

If you're vulnerable, you can sign up to the priority services register for free. This entitles you to extra help from your energy supplier.

Find out what qualifies as being vulnerable and what you need to do to sign up.