§ Mr. CaplinTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures she will take to ensure that poorer families gain from the benefits of competition in the electricity industry, with particular reference to those using prepayment keys. [43057]
§ Mr. StunellTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 11 June 1997,Official Report, column 466, what steps she proposes to take to reduce the cost of electricity charges for small consumers on low incomes. [43149]
§ Mr. BattleIn our Green Paper, A Fair Deal for Customers, the Government have asked the gas and electricity regulators to prepare an action plan on ways to ensure that the regulatory regime works to the benefit of all domestic customers including those who are less well off financially. The plan should enable progress in assisting such customers to be judged against measurable targets.
504WThe Government are considering the case for legislation to require the gas and electricity networks to make differential charges to supply companies in favour of prepayment meter customers. As part of the regulators' plan, therefore, the regulators should advise on whether and how such a proposal might operate and the appropriate level for such charges.
The arrangements currently being put in place for electricity supply competition by OFFER and the electricity industry are designed to ensure that prepayment meter customers will be able to switch supplier like any other electricity customer.