Nearly 100,000 prepayment meters were force-fitted in the homes of Britons under warrant last year. Three energy suppliers carried out the bulk of the actions, including British Gas, Scottish Power and OVO Energy, who together carried out 66,187 of the forced installations.
Prepayment meters allow a person to pay for their gas and electricity on a pay as you go basis.
They are intended to help people avoid going into debt and potentially being taken to court to pay back the outstanding amount.
Grant Shapps, energy security secretary, said: “Today’s figures give a clear and horrifying picture of just how widespread the forced installation of prepayment meters had become, with last year seeing an average of over 7,500 force-fitted a month..
“Prepayment meters are right for some people, so I do not want to ban them outright, but I do have concerns that companies have not been treating their customers fairly, over an already difficult winter during which the government has tried to help families by paying around half the energy bill of the average household.
“After my calls for change, I’m pleased that suppliers have made their actions public and agreed to put a stop to forcing prepayment onto vulnerable customers for good – but this cannot happen again.
“I will be watching Ofgem’s ongoing review closely so customers get the support they need – and those vulnerable consumers who have wrongly suffered forced installations get the justice they deserve in the form of redress.”
Mr Shapps has called for transparency from energy suppliers over the number of forced installation warrants they have used.
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