Energy secretary writes to energy suppliers with prepayment customers

Business and energy secretary Grant Shapps has written to the CEOs of energy suppliers, in the wake of concerns about the delivery of support to customers with prepayment meters.

It has been reported that some prepayment meter customers have not been receiving their vouchers under the Energy Bills Support Scheme and Shapps has written to CEOs to ask how they plan to improve the situation.

In the letter, Shapps said: "I have heard reports that some of your customers on prepayment meters are not receiving their vouchers under the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS).

"Given the scheme has been up and running for two months now, this is deeply concerning – particularly as these customers are often the most vulnerable. The £400 discount will make a real difference, and many will be planning ahead based on receiving this money."

Shapps highlighted the concerns raised by customers including that customers are being told by their supplier that the government has not yet provided the necessary funding. However Shapps claims that this is not the case.

Shapps also said that customers are being told by energy suppliers' call centres that the government, Citizens Advice or another entity is sending out the vouchers, but again he refuted this claim.

Shapps said: "The delivery of EBSS is a complex and large undertaking and I appreciate the work so far to get support to customers. But as the cold weather sets in we have a duty to protect the most vulnerable, not leaving them to worry about their fuel bills. It is on all of us to make this happen."

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