Written questions, answers and statements

Utilities: Fees and Charges

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Question for Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

UIN 45174, tabled on 11 May 2020

Question

Chi Onwurah
Labour
Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he taking to ensure people paying for utilities on a pay as you go basis are not charged higher tariffs compared to people who pay through regular billing during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answer

Kwasi Kwarteng
Conservative
Spelthorne
Commons

Answered on

18 May 2020

Consumers who pay for their energy on a pay as you go basis are protected by the Pre-payment Meter Price Cap which came into force on 1 April 2017. This cap applies to prepayment meter consumers on a non-fixed deal and without an interoperable smart meter and is set so as to ensure that prices are fair. Energy suppliers can price to the level of the cap or below it but cannot charge more. Ofgem are monitoring the energy market closely and will adjust the Prepayment Meter Cap to reflect changes in the underlying factors.

Answered by

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
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