Energy suppliers warned to stop mistreatment of customers

Business and energy secretary Grant Shapps has warned energy suppliers to stop mistreating customers.

Shapps has written to energy suppliers asking them to stop forcibly moving consumers over to prepayment meters without taking every step to support consumers in difficulty.

Shapps has asked suppliers to discuss possible further action they can take to support customers before forcibly fitting prepayment meters. He has also asked suppliers to share the number of warrants they have applied for, with the number rising.

Shapps said: “Suppliers are clearly jumping the gun and moving at risk customers onto prepayment meters before offering them the support they are entitled to – I simply cannot believe that every possible alternative has been exhausted in all these cases.

“I am deeply concerned to see reports of customers being switched to prepayment meters against their will, with some disconnected from supply - and quite literally left in the dark.

“Rather than immediately reaching for a new way to extract money out of customers, I want suppliers to stop this practice and lend a more sympathetic ear, offering the kind of forbearance and support that a vulnerable customer struggling to pay should be able to expect.”

Prepayment meters are intended to allow customers to pay for gas and electricity on a pay-as-you-go basis to help prevent debt and court action. Ofgem rules state that prepayment meters must only be used as a last resort, but numbers have increased since energy prices increased.

Minister for energy and climate Graham Stuart said: “Switching users onto a prepayment plan should only ever be a very last resort and suppliers have a duty to exhaust all other avenues. It cannot be right that, at a time when consumers need compassionate treatment more than ever, so many are being let down in this way.

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Quarter of government central fleet now ultralow emission

The government has hit its target to switch over a quarter of its central fleet cars to ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV).

As set out in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Greening government commitments in 2021 to 2025, the government was required to transition a minimum of a quarter of its car fleet to ultra-low emission vehicles by the end of 2022. As of the latest data from September, 25.5 per cent of all central government cars were ultra-low emission vehicles, reaching the target three months ahead of schedule.

Technology and decarbonisation minister Jesse Norman said: “As the UK moves towards a cleaner transport network, the government is doing its part, with over 25 per cent of its central car fleet being batterypowered 3 months earlier than planned.

“It’s critical that progress in decarbonising fleets is matched elsewhere. We will continue to forge ahead, to complete the switch by 2027 and help make the UK a world leader in decarbonisation.”

The target is just a first milestone as government looks to decarbonise the entirety of its central car and van fleet to zero emission vehicles by 2027.

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