Ofgem publish data on the number of disconnections due to debt. Further information can be found in the following publication:
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/SocAction/Monitoring/SoObMonitor/Documents1/2008%20Supplier%20Social%20OBligations%20Annual%20Report.pdf
The following table includes the total number of disconnections due to debt for electricity in each year from 1997 to 2008. The majority of suppliers reduced their numbers of electricity disconnections in 2008. A large proportion of the increase in the total was due to the impact of a change in regulation which meant that prepayment meters could no longer be installed in some types of properties. Ofgem is currently monitoring the situation.
Electricity Number 1997 460 1998 400 1999 373 2000 300 2001 375 2002 995 2003 1,361 2004 727 2005 604 2006 1,258 2007 2,657 2008 2,891
Existing supply licence obligations and an industry agreed code of practice provide a high level of protection for vulnerable consumers in debt. Suppliers must not disconnect a domestic premises during winter (October through to March) if they know, or have reason to believe, that the customer is of pensionable age and lives alone, or only lives with other pensioners or children under the age of 18.