Rowen praised for role in energy price victory

Paul Rowen MP

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has been praised for supporting a high profile campaign to stop the big six energy suppliers from charging their prepay meter customers an extra fee for their gas and electricity.

Scottish and Southern Energy and British Gas recently became the last suppliers to announce they were removing their prepay meter premiums. Previously, some customers were paying over £100 a year extra.

The energy giants’ decision to axe their controversial prepay meter fees, following a long-running campaign by the National Housing Federation, means all of the big six firms now charge prepay customers the same tariffs as those paying via quarterly bills.

The move will save the UK’s six million prepay customers £150m a year in total.

Federation Chief Executive David Orr said: "We are grateful to Paul Rowen MP who has been calling for an end to this injustice. His campaigning has helped ensure that prepay energy customers don't pay a penny more than those who pay via a quarterly bill. This success will save some of his constituents over £100 a year.”

Before the Federation launched its campaign three years ago, all the big energy firms, with the exception of Scottish Power, charged prepay meter customers the highest tariffs in the market for their gas and electricity – despite the fact many were on the very lowest incomes.

According to research, the average income for a household with a prepayment meter is £16,000 a year.

Paul Rowen said: "This is a great win for social justice and means that almost six million people, many of whom are on lower incomes, will now find it easier to pay for their energy and heat their homes.

"We've campaigned for this day for a long time and British Gas, Scottish and Southern Energy, Scottish Power, E.ON, Npower and EDF should be commended for doing the right thing."