FUEL POVERTY AND PRE-PAYMENT METERS

Early day motion 990, tabled 27 February 2007 by Lord Whitehead (Labour). Signed by 175 members.

That this House notes with concern that users of pre-pay meters (PPMs), who, according to Ofgem research, are concentrated amongst low-income consumers, pay as much as £123 per year more for their gas and electricity than other account-based users; acknowledges that PPMs can incur additional unit and infrastructure costs, but notes that this has not prevented some major suppliers from equalising PPM tariffs for electricity with standard credit tariffs; further notes with concern that recent price cuts from some suppliers leave most PPM customers further adrift from consumers paying by other methods; and supports the calls made by the National Housing Federation and housing associations to the major suppliers to align all PPM tariffs with standard credit rates to help bring low-income consumers in from the cold.

Signatures by party: Labour 108, Liberal Democrat 37, Conservative 19, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 2, Scottish National Party 2, DUP 1, Independent Labour 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.