Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent representations he has received on the potential merits of setting a limit to the extra charges, in addition to the regular bill, which can be charged by energy companies on the bills of non-direct debit customers who pay by cash, cheque or over the phone.

BEIS Ministers and officials regularly receive representations on a range of issues relating to energy markets.

Rules set by Ofgem mean suppliers can only charge more for one payment method than another if the price differential is cost reflective. Non-direct debit customers who prefer to receive paper energy bills by post cost more to serve than those with direct debit arrangements. Suppliers also incur charges for these customers to pay their energy bills by cash and cheque at facilities such as the Post Office or Paypoint.