Arcon Housing Association demands fair energy prices

Arcon Housing Association is calling on Rochdale MP Paul Rowen to back a campaign which aims to stop energy firms ripping off their poorest customers.

Peter Schilizzi, chief executive of Arcon has asked Paul Rowen to raise the issue of prepayment tariffs directly with Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks. Prepayment meter customers can pay up to £300 more than households who can access the best deals online, despite being among the energy companies’ poorest customers.

The Government acknowledged the plight of Britain’s 5 million prepayment meter customers in the Budget when he called on energy suppliers to give them a ‘fairer deal’. But the firms have repeatedly ignored warnings from ministers to lower their prepayment charges – prompting Arcon to urge Paul Rowen to press the Government in taking action.
Hundreds of housing associations across the country have also written to their local MPs during Energy Action Week (1 – 5 September) in an attempt to turn the heat up on the suppliers. The nationwide campaign has been organised by the National Housing Federation , the trade body for housing associations in England.

Research carried out by the Federation last month found 14% of gas prepayment meter customers and 9% of electricity pre-payment meters had ‘self disconnected’ over the last year because they could not afford to top up their meter.

Peter Schilizzi from Acron said: “People who use pre-payment meters often have to pay more than other consumers for their electricity and this is simply not fair. Arcon takes the welfare of its tenants very seriously and by highlighting this issue we can save them money, and make their lives more comfortable.

“With energy prices increasing for the second time this year, Paul Rowen MP must raise this issue with the Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks as soon as possible as pre- payment meter customers can least afford to pay the most to heat and light their homes.”

David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation said: “We’ve already had warm words from the Government on ending the pre-payment meter premium. What we need now is firm action – and that means bringing pre-payment tariffs into line with standard credit bills. If Government proposes anything less that that, it will be failing millions of low income energy customers.”