MORE than three million people ran out of credit on their prepayment meter last year because they could not afford to top it up, according to Citizens Advice.

The charity said that it had seen more people who were unable to top up their prepayment meter in 2022 than in all of the previous 10 years combined.

An estimated 3.2 million people across Britain ran out of credit, the equivalent of one every 10 seconds.

More than two million people were disconnected at least once a month and 19 per cent of those cut off in the past year then spent at least 24 hours without gas or electricity, the charity said.

Citizens Advice, which is the consumer watchdog for the energy market, expressed particular concern about disabled people and those living with long-term health conditions.

It said it had heard from people forced on to a prepayment meter who were unable to top up, even though their medication needed to be refrigerated.

Another case involved a single parent with a young baby who was left in the cold and dark for 48 hours after her supplier switched her to a meter.

The charity is now calling for a total ban on forced prepayment meter installations until new protections are introduced

Ofgem stipulates that certain groups such as disabled people and those with long-term health conditions should not be forced on to a prepayment meter.

End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator Simon Francis said: “The staggering extent of the prepayment meters scandal is now clear. 

“Energy firms and the government should hang their heads in shame.

“Magistrates who approved court warrants in bulk for energy firms to install prepayment meters should also reflect on their role in this injustice.

“A full ban on the forced transfer of customers to prepayment meters, including via smart meter mode switching, is now the only acceptable course of action.”

Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said: “All too often, the people finding it hardest to pay their bills are being forced on to a prepayment meter they can’t afford to top up.

“This puts them at real risk of being left in cold, damp and dark homes.

“The staggering rise in the cost of living means many simply cannot afford to heat and power their homes to safe levels.”

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said: “The government expects energy suppliers to do all they can to help customers who are struggling to pay their bills and suppliers can only install prepayment meters without consent to recover debt as a last resort."