Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a framework whereby energy suppliers directly credit the energy accounts of households in cases of un-redeemed pre-payment vouchers.

For the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS), the Government undertook extensive engagement with suppliers, assessed the available technology in place for prepayment meters and used experience from previous support schemes. This indicated that vouchers were the most effective way of reaching prepayment meter customers as they do not have accounts which can readily be credited directly by the supplier.

Customers have been widely urged to redeem their vouchers promptly. Latest figures indicate 76% have been redeemed. Expired vouchers can be reissued by the supplier but all must be redeemed by 30 June 2023.