Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the number of Energy Bill Support Scheme prepayment meter vouchers claimed in (a) March 2023 and (b) January 2023.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) collects information about the payments made under the Energy Bills Support Scheme GB (EBSS GB) in England, Wales and Scotland. Transparency data on Energy Bills Support Scheme GB payments made by electricity suppliers to customers is reported monthly and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-support-scheme-payments-made-by-electricity-suppliers-to-customers.

In January 2023, 1,953,160 prepayment vouchers were delivered across England, Scotland and Wales. Reporting for the four months of the scheme up to 31 January 2023 shows that 7,916,490 vouchers were issued to customers using prepayment meters, of which 5,992,390 (76%) had been redeemed. Data for March 2023 will be published via the link above in April.