In a two-part session the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
will scrutinise the practice of back-billing by energy companies
with and Ofgem before hearing from
the Energy Consumers Minister on this issue and retrofit failures
on Wednesday, 19th March.
Despite clear rules set out by the energy regulator Ofgem,
thousands of customers have found themselves in receipt of
outdated or inaccurate energy bills as energy companies seek to
recoup losses from internal billing errors. In many cases, the
rising cost of energy and the unreliable nature of smart meters
are compounding the issue and the impact on vulnerable
consumers.
The committee will first hear from Money Saving Expert founder
and then Ofgem
representatives. MPs will likely question the scale of the energy
back-billing issue, examine the current consumer rights and
protections and could ask if enough is being done to hold energy
suppliers to account.
Minister for Energy Consumers, , will appear before the
Committee in the second part of the session. MPs are likely to
begin with questions related to issues raised in the first part
of the session, before moving on to examine retrofit
failures.
MPs are likely to question the Minister on the evidence heard in
the Committee's previous sessions on Retrofitting homes for net
zero and question how consumer confidence can be restored in
the sector. Questions could also focus on the feasibility of
delivering home retrofit at pace, without compromising on
standards.
Witnesses from 3:00pm:
-
CBE, Founder and Executive
Chair at MoneySavingExpert
From 3:30pm:
- Beth Martin, Director for Consumer Protection and Competition
at Ofgem
- Tim Jarvis, Director General for Markets at Ofgem
From 4pm:
-
, Minister for Energy
Consumers at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Jessica Skilbeck, Director, Net Zero Buildings at Department
for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Jane Walker, Director for Energy Affordability &
Consumers at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
