BACK CHARGING PRE-PAYMENT METERS

Early day motion 582, tabled 9 January 2007 by Alan Meale (Labour). Signed by 59 members.

That this House continues to be concerned about the energy pre-payment meter practices currently being operated by some electricity supplier companies, most notably Scottish Power, N Power and Powergen, who continue to demand back charge payments from their customers after their electricity meters have been recalibrated to reflect energy price increases; notes that such practices are currently placing an estimated 1,175,000 of the nation's most vulnerable households into instant debts and arrears, in the process failing to recognise the simple reality that most of these valued customers had opted for such a repayment scheme precisely to avoid getting into financial difficulties; and calls upon the Government to do all it can to influence these and any other suppliers carrying out such methods to cease back charging their pre-payment meter customers immediately.

Signatures by party: Labour 42, Liberal Democrat 10, Conservative 3, DUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.