Arrears on your electricity bill
In short. Unpaid balance from a previous bill, carried forward and added on top of this month's charges.
Where to find it on your bill
Its own line, usually just above the final payable amount, separate from the current month's energy charge.
Arrears appear for one of a few reasons: a previous bill was paid late and the payment hadn't posted before the next bill was generated, a payment was short by even a small amount, or a payment genuinely wasn't made. The arrears figure should equal the "Amount After Due Date" from the previous bill if it went entirely unpaid, or the remaining balance if a partial payment was made.
If arrears appear on a bill you're certain was paid in full and on time, the first step is finding the transaction ID or receipt from that payment — that's what your DISCO's billing office needs to trace where the payment posted.
Frequently asked questions
I paid last month's bill in full — why do I still have arrears?
The most common cause is timing: a payment made close to or after the due date sometimes doesn't post to the DISCO's system before the next bill is already generated. Check your payment date against the bill's issue date, and keep the transaction ID ready in case you need to raise it with the DISCO.
More adjustments & carried-forward amounts fields
- Adjustment — A correction line — positive or negative — applied when a past bill needs to be revised, most often after a meter reading correction or a billing error.
- Subsidy — A discount applied to the bill for consumers verified under a specific subsidy scheme — most commonly the Cross Subsidy Program for low-consumption protected households.
- Credit — An amount owed back to you rather than by you — from an overpayment, a negative FPA month, or a billing correction in your favour.