Call to help cut pre-payment energy bills

EDINBURGH North and Leith Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz has called for a change in the law to help cut the energy bills of pre-payment meter users.

Currently, users can switch providing they are not more than £200 in debt. But Mr Lazarowicz is backing a Bill which would raise that threshold to £300, benefitting over 200,000 people.

He said: “This Bill matters because pre-payment meter users pay more for their gas or electricity even though they are over twice as likely to be in fuel poverty than those who pay by direct debit.

“People often use meters because they are trying to budget responsibly.

“The Government is always urging consumers to switch – this Bill would make it easier for meter users to do so and they are the people who could benefit most.”