PRE-PAYMENT METERS

That this House notes that some of the poorest people in society are forced by power suppliers to use pre-payment meters which result in them paying on average £225 more per annum for their gas and electricity than those who pay by other means; recognises that it may be legitimate for power suppliers to insist that some customers have pre-payment meters, but considers that it is unjustifiable and immoral to charge them more for their gas and electricity; believes that power companies can not use the excuse that these are more costly to administer; and calls on power companies to cut the cost of power supplies to pre-payment customers to the same level as that for direct debit customers.