Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether his Department has made an estimate of the (a) number of energy suppliers which require an upfront payment in order to switch to them and (b) cost of such payments.

The decision to pass on any costs incurred while switching a customer’s supply is a commercial decision for the company. Energy suppliers do not require an upfront payment from customers on a credit meter who are switching to them. Some suppliers will charge if an incoming customer wants to switch from a prepayment meter to a credit meter. The following table shows the energy supply companies that do make such charges and the level of that charge. These suppliers may waive charges for vulnerable consumers or in certain circumstances.