Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring energy suppliers to provide all households with a minimum amount of energy regardless of payment status to help ensure that people on prepayment meters are not disconnected if they run out of money.

Prepayment meters (PPMs) play an important role in the energy market by helping some households manage their budgets, avoid debt and court action.

Ofgem have rules in place to protect customers at risk of self-disconnection and self-rationing. Ofgem requires energy suppliers to proactively identify self-disconnecting and vulnerable customers and offer them emergency and friendly-hours credit and additional support. Ofgem’s Ability to Pay principles also require consistent support for customers struggling to pay their bills. Furthermore, Ofgem has recently launched a further consultation on additional strengthened protections for PPM customers.