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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2022 to Question 117837 on Energy: Billing, what steps he is taking in response to energy companies placing speculative rises on direct debit charges in anticipation of further energy cost increases.

The aim of a direct debit payment arrangement should be for customers to be close to a zero balance on their energy accounts at the end of a twelve-month period. To achieve this energy, suppliers typically review their customers’ direct debit arrangements twice a year based on an actual meter reading to ensure payments are set at a level to avoid large credit or debit balances. A supplier should explain the reasons for changes made to a customer’s direct debit arrangement with 10 days advance notice before the next payment is taken. The customer may challenge a proposed increase and renegotiate the direct debit payment level. They can also review their direct debit payments at any time by taking a meter reading, contacting their supplier and requesting a refund on a credit balance.