Grant Shapps has known as on vitality bosses to spell out what remedial motion they’re taking to cope with clients who wrongly had prepayment meters forcibly put in of their houses, warning that the regulator risked having the wool pulled over its eyes by suppliers.

Power regulator Ofgem final week ordered suppliers to droop the observe of forcibly putting in the meters, following a report within the Occasions newspaper.

An undercover investigation by the paper discovered that British Fuel third-party contractor Arvato Monetary Options was putting in the meters within the houses of susceptible clients.

The enterprise secretary has known as on vitality suppliers to report back to his division by Tuesday, outlining their plans to help affected clients by measures corresponding to compensation.

Shapps has additionally urged Ofgem to determine a brand new reporting system to permitting clients to file their expertise of coping with the vitality firms and known as on the regulator to strengthen its reviewing constructions.

Ofgem had awarded British Fuel the highest rating in two critiques carried out within the second half of final 12 months, which assessed how suppliers had been coping with clients who had been deemed susceptible or who had been struggling to pay their vitality payments

“I’m appalled that susceptible clients battling their vitality payments have had their houses invaded and prepayment meters put in when there’s a clear responsibility on suppliers to supply them with help,” the enterprise secretary mentioned. “They should refocus their efforts on their customers, the British public, who’re on the receiving finish of this abhorrent behaviour.

“I’m additionally involved the regulator is simply too simply having the wool pulled over their eyes by taking at face worth what vitality firms are telling them. They should additionally hearken to clients to verify this remedy of susceptible customers doesn’t occur once more.”

Client teams have in current months warned of a rising variety of suppliers imposing costly prepayment meters on clients who’ve fallen into arrears. Client organisations corresponding to Residents Recommendation have known as for a ban on the observe till new protections for patrons have been launched.

Ofgem has launched what it known as a main marketwide evaluation of prepayment meter installations that can look into potential breaches of licences driving the expansion.

Earlier this week, Jonathan Brearley, Ofgem’s chief government, mentioned that he had requested suppliers to evaluation using courtroom warrants. “Suppliers have to reassure us that the processes for patrons being moved on to PPMs are compliant with all Ofgem guidelines and, till that is executed, we’ve got requested them to pause compelled installations,” he mentioned.

Chris O’Shea, chief government of British Fuel proprietor Centrica, has mentioned that the corporate would droop the observe and apologised for what it described as “deeply disturbing” allegations.

Further reporting by Nathalie Thomas.