Meetings
NDM8219 Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - Prepayment meters and energy advice services
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Meeting: 22/03/2023 - Plenary (Item 5)
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - Prepayment meters and energy advice services
NDM8219 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and
Deeside)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Believes that:
a) it is a national scandal that 600,000
people were forced onto prepayment meters in 2022 because they could not
afford their energy bills;
b) energy regulator Ofgem has failed to
protect vulnerable households by allowing energy suppliers to bypass proper
checks;
c) those forced on to a prepay meter should
be properly compensated by energy suppliers and switched back free of
charge.
2. Notes that:
a) 3.2 million people were cut off from
energy last year due to running out of credit on their prepay meter;
b) average household energy bills could
rise even further, placing an additional burden on households already
struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis.
3. Acknowledges the Welsh Government’s
2021-22 in-home energy advice pilot, providing proactive advice and outreach
support to people who are, or at risk of being, in fuel poverty.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to roll
out an in-home energy advice service across Wales to ensure all households can
access the support and advice they need.
Supporters
Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)
Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)
Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales)
Joyce Watson (Mid and West Wales)
Luke Fletcher (South Wales West)
Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)
Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)
Minutes:
The
item started at 15.19
NDM8219 Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)
To propose that the
Senedd:
1. Believes that:
a) it is a national
scandal that 600,000 people were forced onto prepayment meters in 2022 because
they could not afford their energy bills;
b) energy regulator
Ofgem has failed to protect vulnerable households by allowing energy suppliers
to bypass proper checks;
c) those forced on
to a prepay meter should be properly compensated by energy suppliers and
switched back free of charge.
2. Notes that:
a) 3.2 million
people were cut off from energy last year due to running out of credit on their
prepay meter;
b) average
household energy bills could rise even further, placing an additional burden on
households already struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis.
3. Acknowledges the
Welsh Government’s 2021-22 in-home energy advice pilot, providing proactive
advice and outreach support to people who are, or at risk of being, in fuel
poverty.
4. Calls on the
Welsh Government to roll out an in-home energy advice service across Wales to
ensure all households can access the support and advice they need.
Supporters
Delyth Jewell (South Wales
East)
Heledd Fychan (South Wales
Central)
Jane Dodds (Mid and West
Wales)
Joyce Watson (Mid and West
Wales)
Luke Fletcher (South Wales
West)
Peredur Owen Griffiths (South
Wales East)
Rhys ab Owen (South Wales
Central)
Sioned
Williams (South Wales West)
The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.