Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to prevent energy suppliers forcibly installing prepayment meters under warrant; and what steps he is taking to help prevent the mistreatment of vulnerable customers.

Following my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State’s intervention, all suppliers have agreed to cease the forced installation of prepayment meters and the remote switching of smart meters to prepayment mode. This pause was due to end on 31 March but was indefinitely extended whilst Ofgem and industry developed a code of practice to improve consumer safeguards.

All energy suppliers have now signed up to an updated Code of Practice and tougher Ofgem oversight of involuntary prepayment meter installations. More information can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/all-energy-suppliers-sign-tougher-ofgem-oversight-and-new-code-practice-involuntary-prepayment-installations.