“New protections are needed to stop people being fully cut off from gas and electricity. Until then, there must be a total ban on energy companies forcing those already at breaking point onto prepayment meters. If Ofgem doesn’t act, the Government must intervene.”
Overall, Citizens Advice has witnessed a 229 percent rise within the past year in the number of people reaching out for assistance due to being unable to pay their prepayment meter.
Using figures from Ofgem, the charity forecasts that 600,000 people were pushed onto a prepayment meter because they were unable to afford their energy bills in 2022.
On top of this, Citizens Advice predicts that 160,000 more people could be moved onto a prepayment meter by the end of winter if something is not done soon.