ScottishPower, British Gas and OVO Energy were identified as the leading companies behind 70% of all forced prepayment meter (PPM) installations last year, as stated earlier today by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Government data shows that ScottishPower ranked highest, forcing more than 24,300 meters into their customers’ homes in 2022.
Last year, energy suppliers installed more than 94,000 PPMs without customer consent under warrant, which equates to an average of over 7,500 meters per month, according to the report.
Energy Secretary Shapps has urged suppliers to help households on traditional PPMs access the 2.1 million vouchers yet to be claimed under the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme.
Grant Shapps said: “PPMs are right for some people, so I do not want to ban them outright, but I do have concerns that companies have not been treating their customers fairly, over an already difficult winter during which the government has tried to help families by paying around half the energy bill of the average household.”
Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability Amanda Solloway commented: “We will not stand for the mistreatment of vulnerable customers who have been forced onto PPMs.
“I welcome the move from Ofgem to make it easier for customers to report cases but this can’t be a one off, and suppliers must now offer redress to those they have wronged.”
A ScottishPower spokesperson told ELN: “Affordability is a major concern for customers and our processes are tailored to take account of customer vulnerabilities and circumstances.
“We would not switch a customer to PPM without advanced notice and installing a PPM is always a last resort, only after we have exhausted all other options to speak to and work with customers on debt repayment.
“ScottishPower is currently not installing PPMs, or recovering debt from those customers on new PPMs, unless requested by the customer and is focused purely on charging for usage.”
ELN has reached out to British Gas and OVO Energy for comment.
