Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to help ensure that people on an energy meter do not experience periods with no energy provision.

Ofgem has rules in place that require energy suppliers to provide extra support specifically for prepayment meter customers. These include an obligation on suppliers to make emergency and friendly-hours credit available to pre-payment meter customers. Where a supplier identifies that a prepayment customer is self-disconnecting or self-rationing their supply, they must offer additional support credit.

Consumers in financial distress should talk to their energy supplier, who will be able to discuss their personal circumstances and consider options to help, including reassessing, reducing or pausing payments. Ofgem requires all suppliers to provide a free Priority Services Register service for vulnerable consumers offering a range of services on safety, access and communication.