Energy suppliers criticised over leaving cash-strapped households without power

Regulator says vulnerable households put on prepayment meters can be left without power for days and even weeks

Ofgem has told energy suppliers in Britain to clean up their act after it received alarming reports of cash-strapped households being left without power for days or even weeks after being pushed on to a prepayment meter.

A recent analysis by the price comparison website Uswitch showed the number of people on a prepayment meter was rising for the first time since 2019 with thousands of Britons being switched every month as they struggle to pay higher energy bills.