IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Money and Mental Health responds to Ofgem’s new rules on the forced installation of prepayment meters

13 September 2023

Today Ofgem – which regulates energy firms – published its final rules on the circumstances in which energy suppliers can forcibly install a prepayment meter in someone’s home. Ofgem confirmed that the Code of Practice for the involuntary installation of prepayment meters will be made mandatory.

Responding to the new rules, Conor D’Arcy, Interim Chief Executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said:

“This move by Ofgem is undoubtedly a step in the right direction and will help to reduce some of the grotesque behaviour from suppliers exposed by the media earlier this year. Ofgem must now be hot on enforcing these new rules – and punish firms who do not comply.

“However, while the new rules aim to protect the most ‘at risk’ groups from forced installation, the reality is that thousands of people with mental health problems could fall through the cracks. When you have a mental health problem, communicating with your provider about your situation can be incredibly difficult, and many people struggle to engage at all. So it’s vital that energy suppliers are proactive in identifying and providing the right support to customers who are in financial difficulty, to avoid unnecessary harm and distress.”

ENDS

Contact:

To set up an interview or for any other media enquiries, please contact Rachel Fergusson, External Affairs Officer at Money and Mental Health, on 07935 216 804 or [email protected].

Notes to Editors

About the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute

The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute is an independent charity set up by Martin Lewis, and committed to breaking the link between financial difficulty and mental health problems. We conduct research, develop practical policy solutions and work in partnership with both those providing services and those using them to find what really works. www.moneyandmentalhealth.org