5% of households in arrears on electricity bills

A survey has revealed that 5% of households are in arrears on their electricity bills and 3% on their gas bills.

Research by the Commission for Energy Regulation also shows another 20% of domestic customers said they only managed to part-pay their bills but usually had paid in full before the following bill was issued.

However, the commission said such a group did not consider itself to be in arrears although they may be included in arrears figures calculated by energy suppliers.