Prepayment meters installed under warrant: final proposals
- Consultation status:
- Closed (with decision)
- Publication date:
- Closing date:
- Topic:
-
Metering
- ➞ Prepayment meters
Consumer protection - Industry sector:
- Supply and Retail Market
- Related consultations:
- Proposals to improve outcomes for prepayment customers
Related links
- Consumer Vulnerability Strategy Progress Report (September 2015)
- Consumer Vulnerability Strategy (2013)
- Decision to modify gas and electricity supply licences for installation of prepayment meters under warrant
- Prepayment meters installed under warrant: statutory consultation
- Prepayment review: understanding supplier charging practices and barriers to switching (June 2015)
- Proposals to improve outcomes for prepayment customers (December 2015)
This policy consultation outlines our final proposals for measures to protect consumers in the process of installation of PPM under warrant for non-payment of debt. We don’t want any consumers to face disproportionate costs or actions throughout the debt recovery process, and believe that consumers in vulnerable situations should not face costs that result from their vulnerability or exacerbate it.
The outcomes we intend as a result of our policy are that:
- Installations of PPM under warrant are avoided wherever possible, and only used as a last resort. We want to increase the incentives on suppliers to engage with customers in debt to support them (eg putting them on debt repayment plans).
- Suppliers do not impose high costs, and make their charges and process more consistent and transparent.
- Consumers in the most vulnerable situations are protected, from both costs and process which would exacerbate harm.
We want to know what you think about these issues and proposals along with relevant evidence and data. Please respond to prepayment@ofgem.gov.uk by 09 November 2016.
Respond name
Steve Osmani-Edwards