Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support people whose direct debit for energy bills has been significantly increased by their energy provider without notice causing them to enter an unarranged overdraft.

Suppliers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that customers’ direct debit payments are based on the best available information. A supplier should explain the reasons for changes made, with at least 10 days advance notice before the next payment is taken. The customer may challenge a proposed increase and renegotiate the payment level. Ofgem are undertaking a series of market compliance reviews to assess whether recent direct debit increases are justified.

The Government has announced a package of additional measures to provide immediate support, totalling over £37 billion this year, including a £400 grant to households to help with their energy bills.