Webinar: Why does energy debt keep rising?
Record energy debt presents a complex challenge for the entire sector. In this webinar, leaders from E.ON Next, Utility Warehouse, EDF, and BFY Group discuss the root causes of rising debt, the "trust gap" in customer engagement, and the practical steps needed to drive progress.
With over 2 million accounts in unarranged debt, we need a collective industry response that balances operational scale with an individual approach.
Rachel Littlewood
Director
Watch On Demand
Missed the live session? Now’s the time to catch up.
This session brought together senior leaders from E.ON Next, Utility Warehouse, EDF, and BFY Group for a practical, honest discussion on one of the most pressing questions for the sector:
Why does energy debt keep rising, and who’s responsible for reducing it?
The panel explored the realities behind the current debt landscape and what it’ll take to improve outcomes for both customers and suppliers.
Key topics covered include:
- Root Causes: How policy decisions and shifting customer behaviours have shaped the current debt position
- The Trust Gap: Why building genuine customer engagement is the first step toward effective debt recovery and long-term market participation
- Influence vs. Intervention: Identifying what suppliers can realistically change versus where government support and regulatory clarity are required
- The Path Forward: Practical, collective steps the sector can take to drive meaningful progress and strengthen recovery performance
For those shaping debt strategy or customer operations, this session offers valuable insight into the risks and decisions that will define the next phase of the energy market.
Our Team
Debt Experts
Rachel Littlewood
Partner
Rachel leads our operational and financial turnaround engagements, helping to solve complex operational challenges while maximising commercial performance and customer outcomes.
Kevin Scott
Director
Kevin leads client engagements with a laser focus on empowering clients to navigate large-scale events and market challenges.
Kev Brown
Senior Manager
Kev leads continuous improvement and lean transformation projects with our clients, supporting customer operations to deliver our Leadership and People Excellence programme.
Tania Rameswaran
Senior Manager
As a Senior Manager at BFY, Tania leads client engagements focussed on delivering large-scale transformation programmes across utilities.
Holly Tetley
Manager
Holly supports clients with large-scale business transformation programmes, delivering significant bottom line improvements through back-office optimisation.
Joseph Cooper
Manager
Joseph supports our Retail clients to improve their operational processes and business performance.
INSIGHT
Identifying ~£30m cash benefit through debt maturity assessment
Rising aged debt and siloed data are common hurdles for suppliers, but they also represent a significant opportunity for recovery. In this case study, Rachel Littlewood explains how BFY assessed a ~£150m debt book to identify £30m in potential cash benefit. Learn how a data-led roadmap and targeted segmentation can turn a one-size-fits-all debt journey into a high-performance recovery strategy.
Energy Debt
Navigating the Debt Crisis
There is a real trust gap. Even when support is available, customers often assume offers of help aren’t genuine or are some form of enforcement in disguise. That lack of trust is one of the biggest barriers to improving engagement and repayment outcomes. Rachel Littlewood Director
BFY Group
About BFY Group
BFY Group is one of Europe’s fastest-growing management consultancies, trusted by leading energy and utilities organisations, as well as investors supporting the sector. We build strong partnerships with our clients, working practically to tackle their toughest challenges, realise opportunities, and achieve lasting results. Since our founding in 2004, we’ve been proud to remain an independent, privately owned firm based in Nottingham, working with clients throughout the UK.
We specialise in:
Insights
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