IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Money and Mental Health responds to Ofgem’s call to energy firms to suspend forced installation of prepayment meters

3 February 2023

Yesterday Ofgem – the body which regulates energy firms – called on energy companies to suspend the forced installation of pre-payment meters. This follows an investigation which found debt collectors are breaking into vulnerable people’s homes to install meters.

Responding to the announcement, Conor D’Arcy, Head of Research and Policy for the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said:

“This move by Ofgem is welcome, but it’s not enough to ask firms to stop this appalling behaviour. We need the government and the regulator to force firms to stop these aggressive practices immediately. Anything else is just a sticking plaster on this serious problem.”

“Having your home broken into by your energy provider is not only a gross invasion of privacy, it could have a catastrophic impact on your mental health. This behaviour is completely unacceptable at any time, but especially when more and more people are experiencing distress due to the cost of living crisis. 

ENDS

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