New data from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showed that 1.7 million households using prepayment meters in Britain redeemed their Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) vouchers in January alone – 130,000 more than December 2022.
Forming part of the UK Government’s Energy Prices Bill launched in October 2021, the EBSS offers consumers in England, Scotland and Wales a total of £400 discounted from their energy bills to help tackle rising wholesale prices.
New figures published today (20 February) show that January 2023 saw more households with traditional prepayment meters than at any other point of the scheme so far.
Following evidence presented by Humane Energy on the systemic abuse of smart-meters by automatically switching vulnerable households onto prepayment meters, Secretary of State for Energy Security, Grant Schapps, called on Ofgem to “toughen up on Energy suppliers” exploiting vulnerable consumers.
In response to the BEIS’ call for investigation into forced prepayment meter fittings and Ofgem’s threat of legal action in late January this year, UK energy suppliers have collectively agreed to halt the forced installation of prepayment meters for vulnerable households.
In total, 76% of all EBSS vouchers have been redeemed, according to the BEIS, as over £7.2 billion was provided to support 98% of eligible households.
Electricity suppliers with the highest voucher redemption rates include Octopus Energy and E Gas & Electricity.
Despite the promising redemption rates, 1.9 million vouchers remain unredeemed, warned the BEIS.
Regions with the fewest number of voucher redemptions include: London (58%), Scotland (68%) and the Southeast of England (69%).
BEIS revealed that over a third of vouchers remain unclaimed in London’s Local Authority, with houses from Brent to Lewisham showing the lowest figures.
Outside of London, the lowest redemption rates include Edinburgh (59%), Brighton (61%) and Glasgow (62%).
All other regions have redemption rates of well over 70%.
“The help we’ve put in place means we are covering around half of most household’s energy bill this winter – this is an unprecedented level of support,” Schapps said.
“With January temperatures having dropped to as low as -10 degrees in some parts of the country, I am pleased to announce today a record numbers of households taking up the Government support.
“But many households are yet to redeem the vouchers they are entitled to and I want energy companies to redouble their efforts to get the support to those who need it.”
