Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will request data from Ofgem on the number of people who (a) have gone off supply at the point of pre-payment meter installation, (b) have had involuntary pre-payment meters installed, (c) were given compensation as a result and (d) were returned to a non pre-payment method of payment in each of the last three years; and if he will request a breakdown of this data by (i) energy supply company for (A) England, (B) Scotland, (C) Wales and (D) Northern Ireland and (ii) parliamentary constituency.

The independent regulator Ofgem collects and publishes a range of data on pre-payment meters (PPMs), including the numbers of households that have been remotely switched to PPMs. Data is not available at parliamentary constituency level.

On 13 September Ofgem published its decision on new rules for suppliers in relation to involuntary prepayment meter installations. These rules will be implemented into supplier licence conditions on 8th November and therefore become mandatory. The Code of Practice and current pause on involuntary prepayment meter installations that all suppliers have agreed to remain in place in the meantime.