Thursday 26th January 2012

Weir Challenges Ministers on Self Disconnection 

Angus MP Mike Weir, SNP Westminster Spokesperson on Energy, has challenged the UK government to take action to prevent those on pre payment meters from self disconnecting when they are unable to pay for energy.

Mr Weir raised the issue during Energy questions in the House of Commons and said that the minister’s response was “completely inadequate”.

“The vast majority of those on pre payment meters are fuel poor and it is possible that there are a large number of self disconnections of which  we are simply unaware.”

“The minister’s response that more research is needed into why people self disconnect is completely inadequate. The reason is blindingly obvious, they do so because  they cannot afford to pay the prices that are being charged “

“When customers on ordinary tariffs are disconnected there is a record of what is happening but if someone simply cannot afford to top up their meter then there appears to be no record of this, or more importantly who they are and how often  this is happening “

“It is vital that the UK government take action to address this potentially disastrous situation.”