Prepayment meters penalise the poor, says Stunell

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 16th Dec 2003

Figures on gas and electricity bills published by the Government last week reveal that vulnerable customers in the North West on prepayment meters are being charged 20% more than customers on direct debit.

Local MP Andrew Stunell is pressing the Government to end the discriminatory treatment and restore full and equal rights to all gas and electricity customers.

"It's absolutely absurd that people who have prepayment meters installed because the want to keep a better check on the energy they use are being penalised for taking sensible measures. Higher charges hit the worse off who often do not have bank accounts and cannot use direct debit."

Energy suppliers in the North West have now agreed to allow prepayment customers who are in debt up to £100 to take advantage of savings by switching suppliers. Previously any debt was a barrier to switching.

Andrew Stunell added:

"This is an improvement, but it's not good enough. The question the Government and energy supplies need to answer is how long are people on prepayment meters going to have to wait before they get equal rights to cheap bills and quality service?"

ENDS