The Business Secretary has demanded that energy suppliers stop forcing financially stretched households to switch to prepayment meters. Grant Shapps has also vowed to “name and shame” the worst offenders.
He has written to companies demanding they voluntarily end the practice of forcibly moving households on to more expensive pre-paid energy tariffs, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said. Energy firms should first make greater efforts to help those struggling to pay their bills, such as offering credit or debt advice, Mr Shapps told them.
He also asked suppliers to reveal the number of warrant applications they have made to forcibly enter properties to install meters. Ministers have been urged to impose a moratorium on the forced fitting of prepayment meters, with Labour promising to take the measure.
