More households are struggling to pay their power bills even as electricity and gas prices pull back slightly in the first three months of the year.
The number of customers accessing hardship programs has grown by roughly 20 per cent between January and March.
The Australian Energy Regulator also recorded an eight per cent uptick in payment plans, which help customers smooth out bill shock.
While surging power prices and cost of living pressures likely contributed to the uptick in customer hardship, the energy regulator said it had also ramped up its engagement with customers about these programs.
The communications blitz may help explain the rise in claims, as well as the lower total debt people accumulated before accessing the service.
The quarterly report also revealed a modest dip in the median market offers for gas and electricity after customers endured double-digit growth through sections of last year.
The regulator recorded a one to five per cent fall in the median market offer across most electricity distribution zones since the end of December.
This represented a turnaround from the eight to 18 per cent increase between June and December.
Finder energy expert Mariam Gabaji said seasonal factors largely explained the slowdown in prices over the March quarter and bills would lift again to reflect the winter cold.
Ms Gabaji told AAP higher default market offers, which are the safety net prices set by the energy regulator, would kick in on July 1.
From the start of the month, residential customers on the standing offer will see price increases of 19.6 to 24.9 per cent, depending on their region.
Ms Gabaji said customers could contact their energy regulator if they were struggling to pay their bills.
She also recommended shopping around for the best plan on offer, as well as investigating possible government rebates and concessions that could take the edge off bills.
