![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/smart-meter-warning-for-energy-customers-who-could-end-up-paying-more/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/close-up-screen-smart-meter-752925234-1.jpg&description=THOUSANDS of households on smart meters could end up paying more for their energy bills this winter. The news comes after Ofgem said that over 60,000 households had their meters remotely switched to prepayment mode over the last three months. Citizens Advice said that it has seen a 158% increase in the number of people being forced onto prepayment metersCredit: Getty And now the regulator told the BBC that it has recently received reports of "vulnerable customers being left without power for days or even weeks." Customers on prepayment meters end up paying higher rates for their energy use than those who pay by direct debit - roughly £258 more. Energy suppliers can switch customer smart meters over to these costlier payment methods at the click of a button. They do this to help recover a debt if a customer can no longer afford their bills. And so far this year, Citizens Advice has seen a 158% increase in people being forcibly moved to a prepayment meter on the previous year. The charity said that in recent months almost 500 people have been in contact in distress after being forcibly moved onto prepayment meters. Before smart meters were introduced energy suppliers would have to issue court warrants so they could enter properties and install prepayment meters. However, the requirement for a warrant does not apply when suppliers are switching smart meters to prepayment mode remotely. We've explained in detail below when customers could be forced to switch to a prepayment meter. But Ofgem does warn suppliers to use the "remote switching facility fairly and appropriately." Gillian Cooper, head of energy policy at Citizens Advice, said: "Forcibly moving people in debt onto prepayment meters is disconnection by the backdoor. "If people can't afford to top up, they're at real risk of the heating going off and the lights going out. "The government must ban energy suppliers from using these tactics this winter. And Ofgem has to ensure energy companies aren't chasing people){kind=link}
THOUSANDS of households on smart meters could end up paying more for their energy bills this winter.
The news comes after Ofgem said that over 60,000 households had their meters remotely switched to prepayment mode over the last three months.
And now the regulator told the BBC that it has recently received reports of “vulnerable customers being left without power for days or even weeks.”
Customers on prepayment meters end up paying higher rates for their energy use than those who pay by direct debit – roughly £258 more.
Energy suppliers can switch customer smart meters over to these costlier payment methods at the click of a button.