Prepay energy meters are 'unjust'

Millions of UK households are paying energy tariffs that are "unjust", the Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has said.

Mr Wicks said he would be prepared to legislate to force energy providers to lower their charges for the four million people on pre-payment meters.

Pre-payment tariffs can be up to 70% higher than the lowest rates available, said charity National Energy Action.

Mr Wicks said he had asked energy watchdog Ofgem to investigate the matter and report back.
Meter misery


The extra costs that people on pre-payment meters are now having to meet seem totally disproportionate
Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister

Mr Wicks said: "The extra costs that people on pre-payment meters are now having to meet seem totally disproportionate.

"The gap between what they're paying and what other people are paying has grown to a very unjust extent.

"Depending on what the report says, we're well prepared to legislate to ensure this injustice doesn't occur in the future."

Soaring oil prices could push energy bills up by more than 60% within the next few years, according to a report for the energy supplier Centrica.

This has led to concerns that consumers are having pre-payment meters installed because they cannot afford their energy bills.

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