ENERGY pre-payment customers will have to top up their meter by £15 every two days instead of weekly, it was claimed last night.
Ovo Energy boss Stephen Fitzpatrick said some of the hardest-up households will see bills quadruple due to soaring costs.
2
He said the energy price cap increases will hit hardest the 15 per cent of its customers who use pre-payment meters.
In all, four million do so nationwide.
The meters are typically installed because customers are in debt or need help managing their budgets.
Ovo is backing a proposal, broadly supported across the energy industry, for the Government to freeze bills for two years with a fund which can be paid off over ten years.
One energy source said: “It would be a mega amount of money, but it’s a mega situation and takes away the sharp shock for households now.”
Philippe Commaret, managing director for customers at supplier EDF, warned Brits face a “catastrophic winter” unless ministers act now.
He called on the Government to “step up and play a key role” in the energy crisis.
The Confederation of British Industry also said the Government had “no time to lose” and must “act decisively”.
Most read in Money
It urged the reintroduction measures that helped firms during Covid, such as Time To Pay flexibility with HMRC and a business rates freeze.
CBI chief policy director Matthew Fell said: “Many viable businesses are under pressure and could easily tip into distress without action.
“The guiding principles for any intervention must be to act at speed, and to target help at those households and firms that need it most.”
2
