One quarter of domestic gas customers in arrears

The number of domestic gas customers in arrears rose again in March, new data released by the energy regulator shows.

According to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU), 25% of domestic gas customers were in arrears at the end of the month, compared to 23% a month earlier.

But the percentage of non-domestic gas users overdue on their accounts dropped from 30% to 28% at the end of the same period.

10% of domestic electricity customers were also in arrears at the end of March, down from 11% at the end of the previous month.

March was the month that the Government's last of the three winter energy credits was applied.

However, the percentage of non-domestic electricity customers overdue on their bills rose slightly from 16% at the end of February to 17% at the end of March.