Jon Trickett

Jon Trickett MP this week called for Energy Companies to stop the pre-payment meter rip off. Pre-payment meters – a feature of many homes in the area – charge for energy at higher rates than if people were to pay a monthly or quarterly bill or if they pay online.

In some cases, customers on pre-pay meters could pay up to £300 a year more than customers who pay for their energy online.

In many homes pre-payment meters are used in order for people to budget their energy use or to pay off debt while still heating their homes. It is estimated that around 5 million households in the UK have pre-payment meters. 

Jon Trickett said:

‘Many low income homes have pre-payment meters and it is ridiculous that there are such differences in the prices people pay. Energy companies are profiting from those who can least afford to pay – it is entirely unfair.’

‘Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, was speaking for many of us this week when he said that he does not think it is fair and expects the energy companies to take action. If they do not take action, he has said legislation will be introduced – I fully support that to end the pre-pay rip off’