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Domestic Energy

Volume 406: debated on Tuesday 3 June 2003

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To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of energy customers are in debt as a result of inaccurate bills; and if she will make a statement. [114283]

At December 2002, 1,076,860 electricity customers (4.7 per cent.) and 1,237,448 gas customers (6.1 per cent.) were repaying debt to their suppliers, via a debt repayment arrangement or a prepayment meter. The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) does not hold information on what percentage of customers were in debt as a result of inaccurate bills.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many (a) gas and (b) electricity customers were disconnected for debt in the last year; how long on average it took for them to be reconnected; and if she will make a statement; [114285](2) how many

(a) gas and (b) electricity customers in debt have been required to use pre-payment meters by energy companies to recover that debt; and if she will make a statement. [114284]

During 2002. 995 electricity and 21,780 gas customers had their supplies disconnected as a result of being in debt to their suppliers. 74 per cent. of electricity and 59 per cent. of gas customers were reconnected within 14 days. 157,114 electricity prepayment meters and 128,553 gas prepayment meters were installed to recover debt to suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures her Department has taken to ensure that energy companies improve their billing and customer service systems; and if she will make a statement. [114286]

It is for the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM), the industry regulator, to work with the industry and Energywatch to secure improvements in billing and customer service systems. OFGEM may take regulatory action as appropriate.