How Long Can a Gas Company Leave You without Gas?
For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.
For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.
Are you worried about paying your gas bill on time? You’ve come to the right place. We understand that it’s a tough spot to be in when you can’t pay for your energy.
Every month, more than 170,000 people come to our site looking for help with their debt problems. Citizens Advice reports a record number of people seeking help for energy debts, with almost eight million borrowing money to pay their energy bills in the first half of 2023.1
In this guide, we’ll talk about:
- How long a gas company can leave you without gas.
- What happens if you can’t pay your gas bill.
- How you might be able to cut down some of your gas debt.
- Who can’t ever have their energy supply cut off.
- How to get help if you’re struggling with debt.
We’ll also tell you about the steps to take if your gas has been disconnected and how to legally write off debt. We know this is a hard time for you, but remember, you are not alone, and we’re here to help.
Let’s dive in and discuss your options.
Can an energy company leave you without gas?
It’s possible for an energy company to cut off your gas or electricity, but it’s now extremely rare. Some people can never have their energy cut off.
Your gas supply could be cut off if you don’t pay your gas bills. But the gas company must offer you an affordable payment plan first and take you to court before being allowed to enter your home and disconnect the gas supply.
It’s not impossible, but nowadays it’s much more likely that the gas company will install a prepayment metre, whereby you have to pay for your gas usage upfront.
Just as this forum user explains:
Source: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3042182/npower-saying-can-enter-home-if-no-one-in
They will then chase you for the arrears, possibly with the help of a debt collection agency and legal threats.
What do I do if my gas has been disconnected?
If your gas has been disconnected you could get individual support with this problem through Citizens Advice. They could help you arrange a prepayment metre to be installed in your home, or might even request that your gas supply is reinstalled.
As part of the process, you may need to consider a repayment plan with the company or a debt solution through a UK debt charity.
How a debt solution could help
Some debt solutions can:
- Stop nasty calls from creditors
- Freeze interest and charges
- Reduce your monthly payments
A few debt solutions can even result in writing off some of your debt.
Here’s an example:
Situation
| Monthly income | £2,504 |
| Monthly expenses | £2,345 |
| Total debt | £32,049 |
Monthly debt repayments
| Before | £587 |
| After | £158 |
£429 reduction in monthly payments
If you want to learn what debt solutions are available to you, click the button below to get started.
Common Energy Debt Solutions
If you’ve fallen behind payments and are struggling to cover your gas debts, it’s important to know that there are many energy debt solutions available out there. To learn more, please take a look at the table below.
| Energy Debt Solution | How It Can Help Pay Off Your Energy Bills |
|---|---|
| Installment Plan | Pay in smaller and more manageable monthly amounts until the debt is cleared |
| One-Off Payment | Reduce debt, and possibly get a discount, by paying a lump sum |
| Appealing for a Bill Reduction | Get a reduction by providing evidence of errors in your energy bill or a detailed explanation of your situation |
| Negotiate Contracts | Ask for a temporary reduction in tariffs, a pause on payments, or a longer-term payment plan |
| Switch Providers | If your current energy tariff is too high, consider switching to a cheaper provider |
| Energy Supplier Hardship Funds or Schemes | British Gas Energy Trust EDF Energy Customer Support Fund OVO Energy Fund Scottish Power Hardship Fund npower Energy Fund E.ON Next Energy Fund |
| Government Grants and Schemes | Winter Fuel Payment Warm Home Discount Scheme Cold Weather Payments Local Council Support Child Winter Heating Assistance Breathing Space Scheme |
| Support for Alternative Fuels | If you utilise alternative fuels like oil, LPG, wood, coal, or biomass to heat your home, you may qualify for extra financial help. Speak to an adviser or check with your local council for potential grants or schemes. |
| Seek Advice from Debt Charities | Debt charities offer free advice and practical solutions – they can help you understand your options, negotiate, and set up payment plans with energy providers. |
How long can your gas supplier leave you without gas?
Once your gas has been disconnected, the energy supplier doesn’t have to reconnect you until you clear your debts. But once the debt is cleared it must usually reconnect you within one day.
If you clear your debt during normal working hours on a working day, the gas company must reconnect you within 24 hours. But if you clear the debt outside of working hours, the gas company must reconnect you within 24 hours of the following working day.
If the company misses its deadline to reconnect you, it must compensate you £30, which can be taken off your gas bill, or you can request the money into your bank account.
You could have to pay a reconnection fee and other charges, but these costs cannot be excessive.
Whose energy supply can never be disconnected?
Some groups can never have their gas supply disconnected if the company has agreed to the Energy UK Vulnerability Commitment.
In these cases, an affordable repayment plan and a prepayment metre is the only option for the energy company.
If your energy company signed up to the commitment, you will never have your gas supply disconnected if:
- You’re disabled
- You have long-term health problems
- You live with children under six years old
- You have severe financial problems
There are also rules during the colder months if you’re a state pensioner or live with someone of state pension age. Or if you live with people under 18 years old.
Thousands have already tackled their debt
Every day our partners, The Debt Advice Service, help people find out whether they can lower their repayments and finally tackle or write off some of their debt.
Natasha
I’d recommend this firm to anyone struggling with debt – my mind has been put to rest, all is getting sorted.
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How long can you be left without gas without debt?
You might be left without gas due to an issue with the gas network, maintenance work, or due to a storm – rather than due to debts. You should not be left without gas for a day or more.
You can get compensation in some situations. You might even get £75 for the first day and £35 for every 12 hours thereafter.
Full details can be found in this Citizens Advice guide.
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form
Gas disconnection process
In the unlikely event that the gas company wants to turn off your gas supply, they must follow a strict process.
- The gas company must contact you 28 days after failing to pay a gas bill to tell you about the possibility of having your gas supply disconnected.
- Some people must be offered an affordable repayment plan to repay the arrears and get back on track over. Most energy companies will offer this type of agreement anyway.
- If the energy supplier doesn’t offer a repayment plan because it doesn’t have to, or if you don’t agree on a repayment plan, the gas company must write to you to notify you that they are applying for a warrant to disconnect the gas through the court.
- At the court hearing, you have another opportunity to come to an arrangement and avoid disconnection. If you cannot come to an arrangement, the court might give the energy company a warrant which allows them to enter your home and disconnect the gas supply.
- If a warrant is granted, the gas company must give you seven days’ notice in writing that it plans to come to your home to disconnect the supply.
Interestingly, the gas company doesn’t have to apply for a warrant to disconnect a gas supply which is located outside your home. But even in these situations, the energy company may still apply for the warrant.
Need support with energy debt?
If you’re struggling with energy debt right now, you might qualify for help and support. Learn what’s available for your household by visiting our energy debt info page.
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