Energy Secretary: Unacceptable Number of Compensation Payouts for Forced Prepayment Meter Installations
The energy secretary, Claire Coutinho, has expressed concern over the small number of compensation payouts made to people who were wrongly installed with prepayment meters by energy suppliers.
Out of the 150,000 cases reviewed by suppliers, only 1,500 people have received financial redress.
The energy regulator, Ofgem, confirmed that about 2,500 customers are believed to be entitled to compensation.
The energy secretary has spoken to the regulator to expedite the compensation process, but energy suppliers only acknowledge the need for payouts for 2,500 cases.
Approximately 1,502 energy customers have received initial compensation payments totaling £342,450.
Suppliers have set aside an additional £200,000 for compensation for an estimated 1,000 more customers.
Ofgem instructed energy suppliers to assess vulnerable customers who were forced onto prepayment meters between January 2022 and January 2023 for potential compensation.
British Gas, found to have hired agents who illegally installed prepayment meters in vulnerable people's homes, was not included in the compensation released and is under separate investigation by Ofgem.
A controversy arose when it was revealed that vulnerable people had their homes broken into to install meters, leading to public outrage.
During an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, Ms. Coutinho denied abandoning affected individuals and assured that the government was working to ensure swift compensation payouts.
She had already spoken with Ofgem to expedite the process.
The energy regulator, Ofgem, confirmed that about 2,500 customers are believed to be entitled to compensation.
The energy secretary has spoken to the regulator to expedite the compensation process, but energy suppliers only acknowledge the need for payouts for 2,500 cases.
Approximately 1,502 energy customers have received initial compensation payments totaling £342,450.
Suppliers have set aside an additional £200,000 for compensation for an estimated 1,000 more customers.
Ofgem instructed energy suppliers to assess vulnerable customers who were forced onto prepayment meters between January 2022 and January 2023 for potential compensation.
British Gas, found to have hired agents who illegally installed prepayment meters in vulnerable people's homes, was not included in the compensation released and is under separate investigation by Ofgem.
A controversy arose when it was revealed that vulnerable people had their homes broken into to install meters, leading to public outrage.
During an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, Ms. Coutinho denied abandoning affected individuals and assured that the government was working to ensure swift compensation payouts.
She had already spoken with Ofgem to expedite the process.
