The Energy Bills Support Scheme payment data is collected from suppliers and broken down by energy supplier and payment type for England, Wales and Scotland.

By 1st December 2022, 99% of vouchers had been issued to customers with traditional pre-payment meters, and of these 66% have been redeemed. This is an increase from 59% in the previous month. Vouchers are valid for 3 months and so the Government expects this figure to rise in the coming months. Monthly updates can be found at this address https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-support-scheme-payments-made-by-electricity-suppliers-to-customers.

Delivery data by region, local authority and Westminster parliamentary constituency will be published in due course.

On 4 December, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all energy suppliers with customers on traditional prepayment meters including OVO, reiterating the importance of ensuring these customers receive their vouchers and, receive prompt service and accurate information from supplier call centres. This was followed up by a meeting I held with all CEOs of energy suppliers with prepayment meter customers to press them to ensure a good service is provided. This does not relate to customers with smart prepayment meters which are credited automatically. 100% of vouchers were dispatched to traditional prepayment meter customers in the first month of the scheme’s operation

On 4 December, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all energy suppliers with customers on traditional prepayment meters including OVO, reiterating the importance of ensuring these customers receive their vouchers and, receive prompt service and accurate information from supplier call centres. This was followed up by a meeting I held with all CEOs of energy suppliers with prepayment meter customers to press them to ensure a good service is provided. This does not relate to customers with smart prepayment meters which are credited automatically. 100% of vouchers were dispatched to traditional prepayment meter customers in the first month of the scheme’s operation

On 4 December, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all energy suppliers with customers on traditional prepayment meters including OVO, reiterating the importance of ensuring these customers receive their vouchers and, receive prompt service and accurate information from supplier call centres. This was followed up by a meeting I held with all CEOs of energy suppliers with prepayment meter customers to press them to ensure a good service is provided. This does not relate to customers with smart prepayment meters which are credited automatically. 100% of vouchers were dispatched to traditional prepayment meter customers in the first month of the scheme’s operation

Customers with traditional prepayment meters should have received their first and second Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) discount vouchers. These would have been sent by SMS text, email, post or a Special Action Message. Data for October indicates all vouchers were dispatched by suppliers, and take up was over 60%. Updated figures are due shortly.

The EBSS discount is credited automatically to smart prepayment meters.

The Government regularly engages with energy suppliers and Meter Asset Providers to understand the costs incurred by suppliers associated with meter provision, rental and removal.

Suppliers are responsible for removing a gas meter and capping the incoming gas supply when this is requested by the customer, and may choose to charge for providing this service. The costs suppliers incur from a Meter Asset Provider for removing a gas meter will differ according to their individual contractual arrangements. Customers are normally required to pay a separate charge to their gas distribution company to disconnect their gas supply from the network.

The cost to households of removing a gas meter will vary depending on the type of property, the location of the meter and its service pipe and where they connect to the mains gas infrastructure situated underground on public land outside the property. On safety grounds, the service pipe will be cut as close as possible to the mains gas, meaning the Local Authority may charge to allow the excavation of any pavement and/or road.