Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to improve protections for private renters with pre-paid energy metres.

The Government is committed to ensure energy is affordable for all households, including those who are on prepayment meters. For some consumers, prepayment meters are a useful tool for managing budgets.

In 2023, Ofgem introduced stringent rules for the involuntary installation of prepayment meters. Under these rules, energy suppliers are required to make at least 10 attempts to contact an indebted customer, carry out a site visit prior to any involuntary installation, and refrain from installations in households where a vulnerable person is present.

Energy suppliers are only able to restart involuntary prepayment meter installation when they can demonstrate to Ofgem that they are able to comply with the new rules.