Pre-payment meter energy customers and self-disconnection

Anne McLaughlin Excerpts

Tuesday 17th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North East) (SNP)]

The Prime Minister earns a much higher than average salary, and is already one of the wealthiest men in the UK. He cannot and does not argue that he is too poor to pay his energy bills, so if he stopped paying them it would be for no good reason. Although his energy company might eventually disconnect his supply, it would phone him, send him reminder letters, and offer him debt counselling. All the while, which can be as long as a year, he would be allowed to build up debt. If someone on a pre-payment meter stops paying, normally because they simply do not have the money, their energy will automatically be cut off. It is called self-disconnection and it happens when the customer is in as little debt as £5. It is completely unjust. The petition states:

The petition of residents of the United Kingdom,

Declares that 4 million pre-payment energy customers, who are some of the most vulnerable in society and are more likely to be classed as fuel poor, are not afforded the same rights when in energy debt as standard credit and direct debit customers, allowing just minimal levels of debt, currently just £5 in some cases, before being disconnected from their energy supply; recognises the inherent risk to life for anyone disconnected from their energy supply, in particular the 1 million pre-payment meter customers with disabilities; notes that 3.2 million customers ‘self-disconnected’ last year as they ran out of credit, more in 2022 than in the last 10 years combined; notes that the term ‘self-disconnection’ alludes to an element of choice, but there is no choice for millions of households during this cost of living crisis; further notes that pre-payment energy customers pay more per unit of energy and more in standing charges than those who pay by standard credit and direct debit.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to issue a ban on ‘self-disconnection’ for pre-payment customers; further urges the Government to ensure that pre-payment customers are given the same level of advice and support and the same length of time to pay as all other customers.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

[P002792]