So if older people and families with young kids ran up an energy bill they cant pay...

[ssd]

What would they do about it?

Nothing i reckon.

Surely the same as anything that you can't pay for, it will effect your credit rating and harm future investments

They'll get a pay meter installed and the debt taken from what they put on it.

They will put in a prepayment meter. I had one as a single parent in the early 90s. They won't leave vulnerable people without power but it still has to be paid off one way or another

Yep - prepayment meter so it will cost more in the future, plus bad credit.

But what if they dont allow access into the property to install a meter i wonder?

@Readyforspring

But what if they dont allow access into the property to install a meter i wonder?

Ultimately they will get a court order to enter your home (and then you owe then shit-loads more money for putting them to the expense of doing so!)

They'll send bailiffs round.

For anyone who can't pay their bills, they should contact the company. There are extra grants and less expensive tariffs available.

If you're planning to not pay because you hope the energy company will just go 'OK then', then you're facing letters, phone calls, bailiffs, court appearances, ruined credit file and being put on a pre-payment meter so increased energy costs.

They won't do 'nothing' when to them you're acting like a 'won't pay' rather than a 'can't pay'. They have decades of experience in dealing with people too disorganised or contrary to pay for what they've used.

Yes that's very true

@Readyforspring

But what if they dont allow access into the property to install a meter i wonder?

You don't need to allow access. That's like saying you'll deny access to bailiffs. Won't work.

They will break in if the resident refuses access

www.nationaldebtline.org/fact-sheet-library/gas-and-electricity-arrears-ew/

They’ll get a warrant and come with a locksmith to install a prepayment meter with a higher tariff to collect the debt
Better to ring them before it gets anywhere near that stage