§ Mr. Andy KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what legal rights tenants in sheltered accommodation have to have access to their individual fuel meters in cases where meters are centralised in a locked location. [85116]
§ Mr. BattleRegulations made under The Gas Act provide gas customers with a statutory right of access to their meters. The Electricity does not provide the basis for such a right for electricity customers. The Government has made clear:
its intention to legislate, when Parliamentary time permits, to reform the way in which the public utilities are regulated
that the regulatory process should be driven by the need to put the interests of customers first.
The aim is to bring the regulatory regimes for gas and electricity together where it is sensible to do so.