Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure processes around remote smart meter switches receive the same scrutiny as warrant installations.

Energy suppliers must follow strict rules when changing a customer from a credit to prepayment meter, whether a through a meter installation, or remotely if they have a smart meter.

The regulator, Ofgem, is reviewing energy supplier compliance with these requirements and has made it clear they will take strong action where suppliers have failed to follow them.^[1]

Ofgem has recently launched a call for evidence to consider rules and protections for domestic pre-payment energy consumers.^[2]Both traditional prepayment meters and smart meters in pre-payment mode are in scope of this work.

^[1] https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/energy-regulator-outlines-next-steps-forced-prepayment-meter-ppm-installations

^[2] https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/prepayment-rules-and-protections-call-evidence#:~:text=We%20are%20now%20calling%20for,or%20switching%20customers%20to%20PPM.