Can't tell if this is sarcasm.

Then again, maybe I am overly cynical. UK utilities at least do seem to have a more positive approach towards people struggling to pay than other countries.

Aye, it's one of the (very) few good things you can say about them (generally).

To some degree you're right - if you've got a landlord you need to pay or a utilities provider (assuming you're not horrendously behind already) then sure, but it'd depend on the creditor. I suspect these lads wouldn't be particularly sympathetic, for example: https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/2015/11/24/warning-of-loa...