The level of debt to energy suppliers has increased sharply since the price of domestic gas and electricity pushed many households into financial difficulty in recent years.
The cost of essentials, including domestic energy, created the post-Covid crisis that led to millions of people receiving cost of living payments from the last government.
Energy prices are lower than their peak but remain relatively high. Some customers are struggling to pay their bills now, even before they try to repay unpaid bills from previous months and years.
Average debt for people who do not have a repayment plan with their provider stands at £1,716 per household.
Ofgem is studying how any debt that has little chance of being repaid should be covered.
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