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People with prepayment meters could claim rebates
Campaigners have announced that people on low incomes, who have been forced to use expensive prepayment meters for gas and electricity, may be able to claim back some money.
People on low incomes are forced to pay more for fuel
The North Edinburgh Fuel Poverty Action Group are continuing their campaign to get justice for prepayment meter users, who pay more for their fuel than people on higher incomes who pay by direct debit.
They were encouraged at the recent announcement that Ofgem, the industry regulator, will stop energy suppliers from charging more than it costs them to serve the meters. There are ongoing disputes about exactly what it does cost to serve these meters, but at least it is a start.
The National Federation of Housing (NFI) claim that prepayment meter users are due a rebate on these charges. They say that the higher charges paid by prepayment customers are in breach of EU rules which came into force in 2004. They suggest that customers may be entitled to claim the money back. Between 2006 and 2008, they say, millions of pre-pay customers were charged well in excess of the average extra cost of installing and maintaining gas and electricity pre-pay meters, which is estimated by Ofgem as being £87 over direct debit tariffs.
NFI have now put a template letter on their website for anyone who wants to write to their energy company and claim back the money they have been overcharged since 2004.
To find out more about this issue, please contact the North Edinburgh Fuel Poverty Action Group, c/o Alison Miller at North Edinburgh Trust on 0131 625 0045.
