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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with energy firm representatives on increases to energy bill direct debits.

BEIS Ministers regularly meet with stakeholders, including energy suppliers, to discuss range of energy retail market issues.

Energy suppliers should not increase their customers’ direct debits by more than is necessary. Customers may challenge a proposed increase and renegotiate the direct debit payment. They can also review their direct debit payments at any time by taking a meter reading and contacting their supplier. The Government welcomed Ofgem’s announcement on 13 July 2022 of strict supervision of direct debits payments.