Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has issued a statement pledging to crack down on the mistreatment of energy users by suppliers, following reports showing some are doing nowhere near enough to support vulnerable customers.
He has written to energy suppliers calling on them to stop the harmful and anxiety inducing practice of forcibly moving consumers over to prepayment meters without taking every step to support consumers in difficulty.
This follows after pressure from the voluntary sector, including Citizens Advice calling on energy companies to stop forcibly switching people to pre-payment meters.View Disability Rights UK Article..
Citizens Advice say:
“Over 130,000 households including a disabled person, or someone
with a long-term health condition, are being disconnected from their energy supply at least once a week because they can’t afford to top up.The situation is so acute that we are now calling for a total ban on the forced installation of new prepayment meters until additional safeguards are put in place to end self-disconnection”
Here’s their current advice on stopping your energy supplier moving you to prepayment.
Check out our Cost of Living Information Page if you are looking for support with energy bills.
