Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps is he taking to ensure suppliers fully commit to pausing forced installations of prepayment meters via a warrant until Ofgem’s review of consumer protections is complete.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, are responsible for the enforcement of licence conditions on suppliers in the energy market.

Following intervention from the Government, all suppliers have agreed to cease the forced installation of prepayment meters and the remote switching of smart meters to prepayment mode until 31 March 2023.

During this period Ofgem is undertaking an intensive consultation process to look at what further protections may be needed around PPMs and seek views on other measures that could reduce the need for PPMs to be installed or switched to remotely.