Citizen’s Advice Bureau warns forced repayment meters breach regulations and keep people in the dark
More than two million people are being disconnected at least once a month during the cost of living crisis, according to a new report by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB).
The poll found 33% people’s energy in their residences had gone off at least once in the past year.
A further 19% of people went without electricity for more than 24 hours.
The CAB said: “Citizens Advice frontline advisers have consistently seen evidence of people in vulnerable circumstances being moved onto prepayment meters, in breach of energy supplier regulations.
“We continue to see evidence of these practices even after the regulator wrote to suppliers in mid-November to remind them of their obligations.
“Our polling exposes the consequences of the failure to effectively enforce these regulations: Over 130,000 households including a disabled person, or someone with a long-term health condition, are being disconnected from their energy supply at least once a week because they can’t afford to top up.
The CAB also said the government should ban forced installation of prepayment meters: This ban must include legacy prepayment meters and remote switches for smart meters.
“We will take forward further work to define what these safeguards should be in collaboration with industry, Ofgem and Government.
