[holding answer 9 March 2009]: The Department does not hold any specific information on the average length of time a customer has to be with an energy supplier before being able to apply for a social or discounted tariff.In their most recent report on suppliers' social spend for 2007-08 available online:"http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/SocAction/Suppliers/CSR/Documentsl/Monitoring%20Suppliers%20Social%20Spend%20171.08.pdf"published in December 2008, Ofgem supplied details of the qualifying criteria for the suppliers' social and discounted tariffs. This information shows that there is no minimum qualifying period for a customer to be eligible for suppliers' social and discounted tariffs. The only exception is E.On's WarmAssist tariff, where a customer has to be with the company for at least a year before qualifying.In its report in July:"http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/SocAction/Suppliers/CSR/Documents1/Monitoring_suppliers_10508.pdf"Ofgem set out its new criteria for what constitutes a social tariff. It proposed that for the financial year 2008-09, a supplier's social tariff had to be as good as the standard direct debit tariff but going forwards, a social tariff has to be at least as good as the lowest tariff in a customer's area.SSE's, ScottishPower's and E.On's social tariffs are already consistent with the new definition. EDF, British Gas and Npower have been reviewing their social tariffs and will look to launch new versions to comply with the new definition in financial year 2009-10 as set out by Ofgem.