LONDON (Reuters) -Almost a quarter of people in Britain said it became harder to pay household bills even before increases in regulated energy prices took effect, according to an official survey that underscored the breadth of a cost-of-living crisis. Some 23% of people surveyed in March by the Office for National Statistics said it was difficult or very difficult to pay their usual bills compared with a year ago, up from 17% in November. Among payers of household energy bills, 43% said it was very or somewhat difficult to afford them in March. The survey took place before regulators this mont…