Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many and proportion of wind turbines were switched off due to a lack of capacity in the national grid in (a) 2021 and (b) 2022.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government does not hold data on the proportion of wind turbines switched off in 2021 and 2022 to manage network capacity constraints.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will take steps to stop the remote switching of smart meters to prepayment mode for vulnerable households.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Energy suppliers are obligated under licence conditions to follow strict rules when switching a smart meter from credit to prepayment mode, to safeguard consumers.
Suppliers must only provide a prepayment service when a consumer is in debt where they assess that it is safe and reasonably practicable to do so. The supplier's assessment should include identifying any vulnerability, such as a disability that prevents a consumer from being able to use appropriately a prepayment meter or customers that require a continuous energy supply for health reasons.
If energy suppliers assess it is safe and reasonably practicable, they must then give at least seven days’ notice in advance of the change from credit to prepay mode on the smart meter.
The regulator, Ofgem, is reviewing energy supplier compliance with these requirements and has made it clear it will take strong action where suppliers have failed to follow them.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will take steps to help ensure that prepayment meters are removed from vulnerable households.
Answered by Graham Stuart
My Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State wrote to suppliers on 4 February asking them to outline what steps they will take to identify consumers with an inappropriately installed prepayment meter. He confirmed the Government’s expectation that where such customers are identified, appropriate steps will be taken to rectify the situation.