Big energy companies should be forced to carry out rigorous checks before forcibly installing prepayment meters, a regulator has said.
Energy watchdog Ofgem has launched a consultation to make protection mandatory as part of energy suppliers' licence conditions. This move follows incidents where some suppliers, including British Gas, were found to be breaking into the homes of customers who couldn't afford their bills to forcibly install prepayment meters.
A voluntary code of practice, introduced in May and signed by all UK household energy suppliers, already prohibits the forced installation of prepayment meters for people aged 85 and above. The new proposals aim to establish stricter guidelines, requiring energy suppliers to make at least 10 attempts to contact a customer and conduct a site welfare visit before considering the installation of a prepayment meter. Ofgem wants to transform these voluntary arrangements into legally binding requirements.
