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Ofgem to investigate 'forcibly installed' pre-pay meters Ofgem to investigate 'forcibly installed' pre-pay meters
(about 9 hours later)
More than half a million pre-payment energy meters have been forcibly installed in people's homes over the last six years, according to figures obtained by BBC Radio 5 live.More than half a million pre-payment energy meters have been forcibly installed in people's homes over the last six years, according to figures obtained by BBC Radio 5 live.
The energy watchdog Ofgem has said it will investigate the practice saying it should only be used as a last resort.The energy watchdog Ofgem has said it will investigate the practice saying it should only be used as a last resort.
Energy suppliers can gain a court order to install a pre-pay meter when customers run up debt.Energy suppliers can gain a court order to install a pre-pay meter when customers run up debt.
Industry body Energy UK said pre-paying helped some people manage a budget.Industry body Energy UK said pre-paying helped some people manage a budget.
But Citizens Advice said pre-pay customers got a "raw deal", paying £80 a year more on average than direct debit customers.But Citizens Advice said pre-pay customers got a "raw deal", paying £80 a year more on average than direct debit customers.
The figures, supplied by Ofgem in response to a Freedom of Information request. showed about 97,000 pre-pay gas and electricity meters were installed in England, Wales and Scotland last year alone. 'People become trapped'
In 2009, the first year figures were made available for, there were 36,837 electricity pre-payment meters and 26,711 gas meters installed - a combined total of just over 63,000. Ofgem said it would be "looking into reasons behind the increase in the number of PPMs installed for non-payment of debt on a warrant visit".
In 2014, the figure had risen to 49,615 for electricity and 47,876 gas - totalling about 97,000. "Suppliers can only install a pre-payment meter where it is safe and reasonably practical for the consumer to use," a spokesman said.
The numbers were highest in 2013, when a combined total of about 111,000 pre-payment meters (PPMs) were installed. Philip Cullum, head of Ofgem's consumer team, told BBC Breakfast that the body had clear guidelines on the issue and wanted to reassure consumers in debt that companies are "obliged to help them and negotiate what's a fair rate of repayment".
Audrey Gallacher of Citizens Advice, which has an online guide to the meters, described the figures as "concerning", but "not a big surprise", and said that an increasing number of people had contacted the organisation complaining of problems with the devices.
"Pre-payment meter customers can't take advantage of the competitive energy market," she added. "Many people become trapped on them and can't get a better deal."
'We need to eat and keep warm''We need to eat and keep warm'
Kaylee Abbott is a single mum who lives in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, with her four-year-old daughter Lydia. She lives on benefits, and got herself in debt of about £700 on her energy bills.Kaylee Abbott is a single mum who lives in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, with her four-year-old daughter Lydia. She lives on benefits, and got herself in debt of about £700 on her energy bills.
She has recently had two pre-payment meters fitted under court warrant, and around £4 will be taken from both the gas and electricity meter each week when she tops it up to help pay off her debt. She has recently had two pre-payment meters fitted under court warrant, and around £4 will be taken from both the gas and electricity meter each week when she tops it up, to help pay off her debt.
"In a way, I'm glad it's been fitted because it is paying my debt off, but in another way I'm thinking, what do I put on first, what's going to run out first?" she said."In a way, I'm glad it's been fitted because it is paying my debt off, but in another way I'm thinking, what do I put on first, what's going to run out first?" she said.
"I need electricity for Lydia to watch telly and then gas to cook and to eat and to keep us warm. It's a nightmare. I just want it paid off so I'm better off and when I'm topping it up it's all mine and I'm not running out as quick.""I need electricity for Lydia to watch telly and then gas to cook and to eat and to keep us warm. It's a nightmare. I just want it paid off so I'm better off and when I'm topping it up it's all mine and I'm not running out as quick."
Brian Jackson, director for credit and collection for British Gas, said: "When we go through a warrant process, as we did with Kaylee, it's after we've exhausted all of those other avenues to provide support that really helps keep customers on track."Brian Jackson, director for credit and collection for British Gas, said: "When we go through a warrant process, as we did with Kaylee, it's after we've exhausted all of those other avenues to provide support that really helps keep customers on track."
Ofgem said it would be "looking into reasons behind the increase in the number of PPMs installed for non-payment of debt on a warrant visit".
"Suppliers can only install a pre-payment meter where it is safe and reasonably practical for the consumer to use," a spokesman said.
"Suppliers are required to treat customers fairly."
Audrey Gallacher, of Citizens Advice, said the figures were "concerning", but "not a big surprise".
"Pre-payment meter customers can't take advantage of the competitive energy market. Many people become trapped on them and can't get a better deal," she added.
'Last resort'
Energy UK, the umbrella body for energy suppliers, said suppliers only installed pre-payment meters with a court warrant "as a last resort to help customers manage their debt".Energy UK, the umbrella body for energy suppliers, said suppliers only installed pre-payment meters with a court warrant "as a last resort to help customers manage their debt".
"Pre-payment meters can help customers manage their budget where paying on a monthly or quarterly basis is not suitable for them." Chief executive Lawrence Slade said they were not always the most expensive form of payment and that prices had come down over recent years.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he added: "As an industry, we're doing more every day to try and improve that and to bring in different options for customers in those circumstances."
He said the meters could help people manage their energy use, saying: "People will often ask for a pre-payment meter voluntarily because they like the fact it gives them more control over their consumption."
'Support the vulnerable'
The figures, supplied by Ofgem in response to a Freedom of Information request. showed about 97,000 pre-pay gas and electricity meters were installed in England, Wales and Scotland last year alone.
In 2009, the first year figures were made available for, there were 36,837 electricity pre-payment meters and 26,711 gas meters installed - a combined total of just over 63,000.
In 2014, the figure had risen to 49,615 for electricity and 47,876 gas - totalling about 97,000.
The numbers were highest in 2013, when a combined total of about 111,000 pre-payment meters were installed.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change issued a statement saying energy suppliers needed to do all they could to support the most vulnerable customers.The Department of Energy and Climate Change issued a statement saying energy suppliers needed to do all they could to support the most vulnerable customers.
"We want to understand the reasons behind this increase so look forward to any future insight Ofgem can offer," a spokesman added."We want to understand the reasons behind this increase so look forward to any future insight Ofgem can offer," a spokesman added.
Have you had a pre-pay meter installed by an energy supplier? What difference has it made? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
If you are available to talk to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.