Horror smart meter warning after 150,000 Brits switched to more expensive plans remotely

Richard Neudegg, from Uswitch, a price comparison service and switching website, said the recent rise of prepayment meters in the last few months was “worrying” as the Government’s energy price guarantee is set to end April, warning that households could be “plunged into darkness” if they cannot afford to top up the metre. 

This comes at a time when energy bills are on average double what they were last year, and amid a cost-of-living crisis with soaring inflation, is seeing an increasing number of households get pushed into fuel poverty. 

End Fuel Poverty says there is an estimated 7 million Britons in fuel poverty, but warns that this number could rise to over 10 million once the Government’s energy price guarantee , which has frozen bills for typical households at £2,500 since October was originally set to last for two years, ends in April. According to forecasts, the average consumer will be expected to pay £3,702 a year if the Government does not step in with a new plan to limit bills, consultants Cornwall Insight has warned. 

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy Industrial Strategy said: “We understand this is a difficult time for families, which is why we have put in place immediate support including the Energy Price Guarantee, which is saving the typical household around £700, in addition to providing the most vulnerable households with £1,200 each this year on top of the £400 support that households are benefitting from.

“We expect suppliers to fully comply with their obligations and welcome the steps Ofgem is taking.”

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1694147/smart-meter-energy-bills-ofgem-prepayment-meter