Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Trade and Industry Committee
Published: 2005-02-10
Total Pages: 34
Get eBook
Following the death of two pensioners in their home in the Autumn of 2003 after their heating supply had been disconnected because they had not paid their bill, concerns have been raised as to whether there should be a ban on fuel supply disconnection by gas and electricity customers, as there is in relation to water supply. Despite proposed amendments, the Energy Act 2004 (c. 20, ISBN 0105420042), passed in July 2004, contains no ban on disconnections. In light of these concerns, the Committees report examines the incidence of fuel disconnections and the measures taken by Ofgem, the regulator of the gas and electricity industries, and fuel suppliers to protect the most vulnerable customers. Issues considered include: the scale of the problem, options for minimising and preventing debt, payment methods, the Priority Services Register and the warrants process, identifying vulnerable customers, the safety net, and the role of social services.