MIKE HEDGES CHALLENGES WELSH GOVERNMENT ON UNFAIRNESS OF STANDING CHARGES FOR ENERGY WHEN NO ENERGY IS USED.
Speaking from his Senedd office after Business Questions, local Swansea East MS said ‘ it is surely one of the scandals of the age that people who do not use energy, still have to pay a charge per day when they next use their gas or electric, even for the days when no energy has been used. It means people with pre-payment metres pay huge charges for small usages of energy.
I urge the Welsh Government to do all they can to end this unfair and cruel practice.’
Carrying on the energy theme, I'm requesting a Government statement on progress being made by the Welsh Government on ending standing charges on days when no energy is used. When people have their first hot meal for days, which is likely to be a tin of soup, and find they have used up to a quarter of their energy credit, to me this is fundamentally wrong. I would add the word 'cruel' as well. Whilst opposed in principle to standing charges, which hit the poorest hardest, as a first step it is imperative that standing charges are not made on days when no energy is used.
Thank you. Well, I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that the Minister for Social Justice absolutely agrees with you on the substantive issue you raise. I know she's had several meetings with energy companies and also with Ofgem. I think the last time we met Ofgem was yesterday, where she raised this issue with them. We believe there should be no standing charges for prepayment customers. They're a real injustice for prepayment customers.
No comments:
Post a Comment