What happens if you don't pay your energy bill?

If you miss energy bill payments, your supplier will contact you to arrange payment. They must offer a payment plan you can afford before taking further action. Your supplier cannot disconnect you without following a strict process, and they cannot disconnect you during winter (October to March) if you are a pensioner, disabled, or chronically ill. Energy debt does not appear on your credit file unless it is passed to a debt collection agency or a CCJ is obtained.

Can my energy be cut off if I can't pay?

Disconnection is a last resort and is rare. Your supplier must first offer you a payment plan, offer a prepayment meter, and make reasonable efforts to recover the debt. They cannot disconnect you if everyone in the household is a pensioner, disabled, chronically ill, or if there are children under 5 in the home during winter. In practice, suppliers are under Ofgem rules to treat disconnection as an absolute last resort.

Can I get help with energy debt?

Yes. Every major energy supplier has a hardship fund or trust fund that can write off some or all of your energy debt. You can also apply for government schemes like the Warm Home Discount (£150 off your bill) and get grants from charities. Contact your supplier first to discuss options — they are required by Ofgem to help customers in financial difficulty.

What Happens If You Can't Pay Your Energy Bill?

Q: Will energy debt affect my credit score?

Energy debt does not normally appear on your credit report. However, if the debt is passed to a debt collection agency, or if the supplier obtains a County Court Judgment (CCJ), it will appear on your credit file and affect your credit score. Staying in contact with your supplier and agreeing a payment plan prevents this from happening.

If you are comparing tariffs, switching options, and bill-control tactics, start with the Energy Bills and Switching Hub for the full decision framework.

Struggling to pay energy bills is increasingly common. The good news is that energy suppliers have strict obligations to help you, and there are emergency support options available.

What Happens Step by Step

Stage	What happens	Your rights
1. Payment missed	Supplier sends a reminder or contacts you	You have time to respond
2. Continued non-payment	Supplier offers a payment plan	Must be affordable — based on your income
3. Payment plan rejected or not agreed	Supplier may offer a prepayment meter	You can object — see below
4. Continued debt	Debt may be passed to collections	Supplier must follow Ofgem rules
5. Last resort	Disconnection (extremely rare)	Strict protections for vulnerable people

Your Rights When You Can’t Pay

Right	Details
Payment plan	Supplier must offer one based on what you can reasonably afford
Cannot disconnect without warning	Must follow a formal process with written notice
Winter disconnection ban	Cannot disconnect pensioners, disabled or chronically ill people October–March
Cannot disconnect if vulnerable	Protected households include elderly, disabled, seriously ill, families with young children
Prepayment meter protections	Supplier cannot force-fit a prepayment meter if it is not safe and reasonably practicable
Ability to pay assessment	Supplier must assess your ability to pay before setting repayment amounts
Free debt advice referral	Supplier must signpost you to free debt advice

What to Do If You Can’t Pay

Step	Action
1. Contact your supplier immediately	Do not ignore bills — call or use online chat
2. Explain your situation	Tell them you are struggling to pay
3. Ask for a payment plan	Based on what you can actually afford
4. Ask about hardship funds	Every major supplier has one
5. Check if you qualify for Warm Home Discount	£150 off your bill
6. Apply for government and charity grants	See below
7. Get free debt advice	Citizens Advice, StepChange, or National Debtline

Supplier Hardship Funds

Supplier	Fund name	What they offer
British Gas	British Gas Energy Trust	Grants to clear energy debt (and sometimes other debts)
EDF	EDF Customer Support Fund	Grants to help with energy debt
E.ON	E.ON Next Energy Fund	Grants to clear or reduce energy debt
OVO	OVO Energy Fund	Grants for energy debt and energy-saving measures
Octopus Energy	Octo Assist & Octopus Assist Fund	Grants and emergency credit
Scottish Power	Scottish Power Hardship Fund	Grants to reduce energy debt
So Energy	So Energy Customer Support	Debt relief and payment plans

These funds can write off hundreds or thousands of pounds of energy debt. You usually need to demonstrate financial hardship and be on a payment plan already.

Government Help

Scheme	What it provides	Eligibility
Warm Home Discount	£150 off electricity bill (winter)	Pension Credit recipients (automatic) or low-income households (apply through supplier)
Winter Fuel Payment	£100–£300 (varies by eligibility)	State Pension age residents (now means-tested)
Cold Weather Payment	£25 per 7-day cold spell	Pension Credit, Income Support, JSA, ESA, UC (limited costing element)
ECO4 scheme	Free insulation or heating improvements	Means-tested benefits + inefficient home
Council welfare funds	Emergency payments	Contact your local council

Prepayment Meters — What to Know

Issue	Details
Force-fitting a meter	Supplier can apply to court to fit one, but Ofgem rules now restrict forced installations for vulnerable customers
Self-disconnection	If your prepayment meter runs out of credit, your supply stops — this counts as self-disconnection
Emergency credit	Most prepayment meters have £5–£10 emergency credit
Friendly hours	Some suppliers do not disconnect prepayment meters overnight or at weekends
Debt repayment on prepayment	Supplier adds a debt repayment amount to each top-up — should be affordable
If on a prepayment meter and struggling	Contact supplier for emergency credit, reduced debt repayment rate, or fuel vouchers

Fuel Vouchers

If you have a prepayment meter and cannot afford to top up, you may be able to get emergency fuel vouchers.

Source	How to access
Your energy supplier	Call and ask for emergency credit or fuel vouchers
Citizens Advice	Can issue fuel vouchers in emergencies
Local council welfare assistance	Some councils provide energy vouchers
Charities (Turn2Us, SSAFA, etc.)	Depends on circumstances

Will Energy Debt Affect My Credit Score?

Situation	Impact on credit file
Missed payment — still with supplier	No — energy companies do not report to credit agencies by default
On a payment plan with supplier	No
Debt passed to debt collection agency	Yes — third-party debt collectors report to credit agencies
County Court Judgment (CCJ) obtained	Yes — stays on credit file for 6 years
Supplier switch with debt	Supplier may object to the switch until debt is cleared

Key point: Energy debt on its own does not affect your credit score. Keep talking to your supplier and it stays off your credit file.

Priority and Non-Priority Debts

Energy debt is classified as a priority debt because the consequences of non-payment (disconnection) are more serious than non-priority debts (credit cards, personal loans).

Priority debts (deal with first)	Non-priority debts
Energy bills	Credit cards
Rent/mortgage	Personal loans
Council tax	Catalogues
Court fines	Overdrafts
Child maintenance	Store cards

If you are struggling with multiple debts, always prioritise energy, rent, and council tax.

Scotland — Key Differences

Difference	Details
Warm Home Discount	Same scheme applies in Scotland
Home Energy Scotland	Free advice service plus interest-free loans for energy efficiency
Crisis grants	Scottish Welfare Fund provides crisis grants for emergencies

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