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1419544

registered interest
date	03/02/2022
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Energy: Meters
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide additional financial support to households with prepayment meters in response to the energy price cap increase announced on 3 February 2022.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	117859
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2022 answer text <p>The Government recognises many households will need support to help deal with the rising cost of energy prices and is providing support worth £9.1bn in 2022-23 including:</p><p>o A £200 discount for households delivered via their energy bill this autumn, paid back automatically over the next 5 years, spreading the increased costs of global prices over time in a way that is more manageable for households.</p><p>o A £150 non-repayable cash rebate to 80% of households to help with rising costs now, delivered as a payment from government to Local Authorities, for implementation from this April via a payment to all households in Council Tax Bands A-D.</p><p>o £144 million of discretionary funding for Local Authorities to support households who need support but are not eligible for the Council Tax reduction.</p><p>Domestic energy customers will receive the discount regardless of the type of payment method. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will work closely with industry and consumer groups on how best to deliver this policy, including through a public consultation in the Spring.</p><p> </p><p>We have consulted on expanding the Warm Home Discount by almost a third from 2.2m to 3m vulnerable households and increasing the rebate value to £150 each year.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also providing £3bn over this Parliament to help more than half a million lower income homes become more energy efficient, saving them £290 per year on average, including through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Home Upgrade Grant.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 10/02/2022 10:40:05 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1419546

registered interest
date	03/02/2022
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Energy: Meters
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to remove the fee charged by energy companies to consumers when switching from a pre-payment to a standard meter.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	117861
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2022 answer text <p>Rules around the amount energy suppliers can charge for switching meter types are set by Ofgem. Ofgem expect that customers should not be penalised because of their choice of payment method, whether by prepayment or standard credit meter, and any charges should be reflective of the cost to the supplier. Ofgem permits suppliers to charge less than the actual cost or to waive the charge of installing or removing a prepayment meter, particularly where this can benefit customers in vulnerable situations. The Government will continue to work with Ofgem to consider what reforms are needed for future retail market regulation.</p> answering member constituency Chelsea and Fulham answering member printed Greg Hands question first answered 11/02/2022 13:57:24 answering member 1526 label Biography information for Greg Hands
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1419547

registered interest
date	03/02/2022
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Energy: Meters
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will ask energy companies to equalise tariffs on a standard meter with those on pre-payment meters.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	117862
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2022 answer text <p>Supply Licence Conditions, as enforced by the independent energy regulator Ofgem, stipulate payments must reflect the cost to the supplier. The costs of supplying prepayment meters compared to standard meters are higher due to the different meter requirements and different payment systems. The Energy Price Cap ensures those on prepayment meters pay a fair price for their energy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chelsea and Fulham answering member printed Greg Hands question first answered 11/02/2022 13:56:16 answering member 1526 label Biography information for Greg Hands
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1182681

registered interest
date	04/03/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Energy: Meters
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to take steps to ensure that households with pre-paid electricity meters continue to have electricity in the event that occupants are required to self-isolate as a result of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	25171
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>At the end of 2019 36% of all prepayment meters were smart meters in pre-payment mode, which enable energy consumers to top up without needing to leave their homes.</p><p> </p><p>There are existing general protections for traditional prepayment meter customers who are unable to access top-up outlets, including emergency credit if credit has been exhausted on the meter. Suppliers also operate a friendly hour’s policy, when supply would not be interrupted, normally during evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays.</p><p> </p><p>For traditional prepayment meters, suppliers can also send pre-loaded keycards to customers to provide additional credit, where consumers need to self-isolate for a longer period of time. The consumer would need to inform their supplier that they need assistance.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is actively engaging with Ofgem and industry to ensure all customers receive the support they need.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 09/03/2020 16:52:32 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1168359

registered interest
date	19/12/2019
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Energy: Meters
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on people on low incomes of increasing the minimum top up amount on a prepayment meter; and whether she has had discussions with (a) British Gas and (b) other energy providers on such a change.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	174
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>British Gas are introducing a minimum top up of £5 for most of their prepayment customers starting on 1 January. This is a commercial decision of British Gas. Although a £5 minimum top up is not uncommon practice amongst suppliers, there are many that offer a minimum top up of £1.</p><p> </p><p>BEIS officials are liaising with Ofgem to confirm whether they were given prior notification of British Gas’ decision, and also that British Gas has met its obligation to treat customers fairly and ensure that each customer was provided with information about the assistance and advice that is available to them.</p><p> </p><p>Customers are protected through the price caps on standard variable and prepayment meter tariffs. A key challenge now is for suppliers to put the consumer first and improve their customer service.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 07/01/2020 13:45:05 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West