Stop your energy supplier moving you to prepayment

Summary

Tell your supplier if a child under 2 years old lives in your home - your supplier can’t force you onto prepayment. If you’re disabled or have a health condition and you don’t think it would be safe for you to be on prepayment, you should tell your supplier immediately. You can refuse to move to prepayment if you or someone in your home has a: * health condition or disability which needs a continuous supply of electricity - for example, you use a stair lift or take medication which needs to be kept in a fridge * health condition which is made worse by a cold home - for example, sickle cell disease * severe or terminal health condition - for example, COPD or cancer You can refuse to move to prepayment if you have a health condition or disability which makes it difficult to reach, work or top up a prepayment meter. You can only refuse if there’s no one else in the home who can help. If you run out of gas or electricity because you can't top up your meter, this is called 'self-disconnecting'. Tell your supplier that you'd have to self-disconnect if you had a prepayment meter. Tell your supplier if you can’t afford to top up and you or anyone in your home: * is pregnant or has a child.

Key information

• health condition or disability which needs a continuous supply of electricity - for example, you use a stair lift or take medication which needs to be kept in a fridge
• health condition which is made worse by a cold home - for example, sickle cell disease
• severe or terminal health condition - for example, COPD or cancer
• is pregnant or has a child aged between 2 and 5 years old
• has a long term health condition, for example, Parkinson’s or osteoporosis
• has a mental health condition
• has had a recent bereavement
• has a health condition which is made worse if they can’t eat hot food - for example, malnutrition
• debit and credit card statements and bills
• receipts for things you pay for in cash
• reach your current meter - for example, if it's above head height and you’re disabled
• get to your current meter - for example, if it’s in a shared cupboard you don’t have a key for

Practical guidance

• Source: Stop your energy supplier moving you to prepayment

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