Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make it his policy to introduce a permanent ban on the forced installation of prepayment meters.

Last year, Ofgem introduced stringent rules for the involuntary installation of prepayment meters. Under these new rules, energy suppliers are required to make at least 10 attempts to contact an indebted customer, carry out a site visit prior to involuntary installation, and refrain from installations in households where a vulnerable person is present.

Energy suppliers are only able to restart involuntary prepayment meter installation when they can demonstrate to Ofgem that they are able to comply with the new rules. We are working with Ofgem to actively monitor the impact of these changes to involuntary installations and will continue to engage with them closely on this.