Blog
Why is energy debt still going up?
Recent media coverage is recycling something that as an industry we’ve understood for a while – energy debt is still going up. But why? Compared to 2 years ago the macro economic picture is positive – prices have fallen significantly and incomes are outpacing inflation. This should all be driving debt down, but it’s growing.
Suppliers face prepay balancing act as additional support credits hit £150m
Understanding who in the prepayment portfolio needs support - and how much - remains critical for energy suppliers. While ~£9 of the current price cap includes a temporary allowance for bad debt, this relies on suppliers operating at a ‘notionally efficient’ level. Rachel Littlewood and the team outline five steps to help you enhance your approach, and strike the right balance between support, operating costs, and bad debt.
Domestic suppliers will need to make up £250m cash shortfall
Domestic energy suppliers faced a £250m cash coverage deficit at end of Q3. For the third consecutive quarter, suppliers had to finance a shortfall in net balances, even as customer credit balances reached their seasonal peak. It marks a shift from previous years, when suppliers had a positive net cash position during this period.
Energy debt hits record £3.8bn, as Ofgem propose initiatives to raise standards
Energy debt has reached a new high of £3.8bn as of Q3-24, up £134m from the previous quarter, and £0.9bn over the past year. Alarmingly, £2.9bn (75%) of this debt remains without any repayment arrangement in place, with 2m customers in this bracket. Total debt has almost tripled since 2020, and the volume of customers without repayment arrangements is up 700k (55%) in the same period.
Tailoring service for prepay is more critical than ever this winter
Demand from prepayment customers is expected to rise by 50% in winter, and with affordability challenges at unprecedented levels, bespoke service is needed more than ever. We look at what's needed to address the immediate impact here, laying the foundations for a sustainable, long-term approach.
Energy bills to rise ~£800m after Winter Fuel Payment cut
Analysis from BFY Group shows the ~10m customers losing their Winter Fuel Payment will pay an additional ~£800m in energy bills this winter vs last.
Typical DD customers are ~1.7x monthly payments in credit
As we head into winter, typical Direct Debit (DD) customers are in credit by ~1.7x their monthly payment. With c.70% domestic energy customers choosing to pay by DD, payment adequacy is critical for supplier health.
Domestic energy suppliers faced £1.6 billon cash coverage deficit in June 2024
By combining Ofgem's latest data on customer credit with their recent market debt figures, BFY Group analysis shows domestic suppliers faced a £1.6bn shortfall to the target cash reserve in June 2024 - an increase of £1.4bn from 12 months before.
Domestic Energy Debt Reaches Record £3.7 Billion
Energy debt hits a new peak of £3.7 billion as of Q2 2024 as Average debt per customer rises to a record £1,094. Energy debt has continued to increase by 40% since Q2 2023 while average annualised customer bills have levelled out.
Optimising your DCA strategy to mitigate rising debt
Domestic debt keeps rising, and engaging customers through tailored journeys is crucial to take control of the situation. Refining your approach to DCAs can drive these improvements, supporting your internal efforts to better manage customer debt. We've outlined three steps here to help maximise results from your DCA relationships.
Domestic energy suppliers faced £1.9bn cash coverage deficit
By combining Ofgem's new data on customer credit with their recent market debt figures, our analysis shows domestic suppliers faced a £1.9bn shortfall to the target cash reserve in March 2024 - an increase of £1.1bn in the past 12 months.
Domestic energy debt has reached £3.3bn, up £1.1bn in a year
Ofgem have shared their Q1-24 view of domestic energy debt, reporting a total debt value of £3.3bn in the industry (54% increase since Q1-23).
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