Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will take steps to extend the ban on forced installations of pre-payment meters to include all households which include a disabled person.

Ofgem has set out new rules around prepayment meters (PPMs) to ensure suppliers are acting in a fair and responsible way, with involuntary installations used only as a last resort.

Under the new rules, suppliers must carry out a site welfare visit before installation and refrain from all involuntary installations:

• for the highest risk customers including households with residents with severe health issues,
• and where there is no one within the household that has the ability to top up the meter due to physical or mental incapacity.

The Government has welcomed the steps Ofgem has taken on this issue.