An energy minister has told chiefs of Great Britain’s biggest energy companies they must increase efforts to help households deal with unpaid energy bills as the country heads into winter. The intervention comes ahead of government plans to spend almost £2.5 billion to write off record high energy debts.
Company bosses were summoned to a roundtable meeting on Thursday to discuss the government’s debt relief plan, which aims to clear the energy arrears of roughly 2.4 million of the most affected households. Officials said the meeting was intended to secure industry cooperation with the proposed intervention.
The minister’s request that suppliers “do more” reflects concern about rising levels of unpaid energy bills and the strain on vulnerable consumers during the colder months. The government has framed the expected £2.5bn outlay as a targeted step to reduce the burden of accumulated energy debt on the hardest‑hit households.
Industry leaders attending the meeting were asked to consider how they can step up support for customers with arrears and to work with authorities on the mechanics of the write‑off plan. The discussions focused on implementation and the role that suppliers will play in identifying eligible customers and managing repayments and relief measures.
Officials said the intervention is part of a broader effort to address the immediate pressure on household finances before and during winter. The government and industry will continue talks as the details of the debt relief scheme are finalised and progress is made towards operational arrangements.