Ofgem opens investigation into Utilita’s compliance with the pre-payment meter price cap

Ofgem has launched an investigation into whether Utilita broke rules around charging customers above the permitted level of the price cap for prepayment meter customers, between May and September 2019.

The Prepayment Meter Price Cap came into force on 1 April 2017. The cap is temporary, and applies to prepayment meter customers on a non-fixed deal and without an interoperable smart meter. Suppliers can price to the level of the cap or below it, but cannot charge more.

The opening of this investigation does not imply that we have made any findings about non-compliance by Utilita.

Notes to editors

·        For more information on the licence conditions we are examining see our investigation into Utilita and its compliance with obligations under Standard Licence Conditions (SLC) 28A

·        The cap does not apply to interoperable smart meters, which are meters that can continue to fully work in their smart functionality if customers switch supplier. It does not apply to fixed term deals.