One in eight Australians are unable to afford their electricity bills, while one in three have missed a payment in the past 12 months, according to a new survey of Australian households.

The Ernst & Young Customer Experience Series found electricity bills to be a major stressor for Australians, with 70 per cent of people surveyed saying they were often worried about being able to pay their bill.

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Sixty per cent of those who missed a due date said they were unable to afford the payment.

People said they were more likely to pay on time if they were able to select their own billing date, be billed on a monthly cycle, and be rewarded with a discount for paying on time.

Additionally, many reported difficulty in switching electricity providers, with some customers saying the process was too difficult and time-consuming.

Energy Retailers Association of Australia (ERAA) chief executive Cameron O’Reilly told the ABC there were ways electricity providers could help people facing financial hardship.

“This may include the retailer arranging an extension on bill payments if necessary, creating affordable payment plans to help get back on track, providing financial counselling or making sure you get full entitlements from government agencies such as Centrelink,” Mr O’Reilly said.