Leech in Energy Price Victory
March 26, 2010 1:58 PM
Originally published by John Leech, MP for Manchester Withington
Originally published by John Leech, MP for Manchester Withington
John Leech MP: This is a big win for those on lower incomes across South Manchester
The big six energy suppliers will now no longer charge their prepay meter customers an extra fee for their gas and electricity.
Scottish and Southern Energy and British Gas recently became the last suppliers to announce they were removing their prepay meter premiums.
This new move will save the UK's six million prepay customers around £150m a year, around £100 per household on prepay meters. Research by the National Housing Federation found that the average income for a household with a prepayment meter is £16,000.
The energy giants' decision to axe their controversial prepay meter fees follows a long-running campaign by the National Housing Federation and means all of the big six firms now charge prepay customers the same tariffs as those paying via quarterly bills.
National Housing Federation chief executive David Orr said:
"We're delighted that all of the big six energy suppliers have equalised permanently the tariffs charged to prepayment meter users with those charged to customers on quarterly bills.
"We are grateful to John Leech who has been calling for an end to this injustice. His campaigning has helped ensure that prepay energy customers don't pay a penny more than those who pay via a quarterly bill."
Commenting on the changes, John Leech said:
"This is a great win and means that many of those on lower incomes will now find it easier to pay for their energy and heat their homes.
"The campaign has been a great success and the energy suppliers should be commended for making the changes."
1. The big six energy suppliers are: British Gas, Scottish and Southern Energy, Scottish Power, E.ON, NPower and EDF
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