Ofgem boss set to quit over prepaid meter scandal, charities say

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Charities have called on the boss of energy regulator Ofgem to resign over a scandal that saw suppliers impose prepayment meters on hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Britons .

Former Labor Prime Minister Gordon Brown told The Independent this week that chief executive Johnson Brearley should resign over the "dismal failure" to protect customers the poorest.

The issue was pushed into the spotlight after a report that British Gas contractors broke into the homes of customers - including people with disabilities and problems mental health - to install the meters.

Fuel poverty groups have now urged Mr Brearley to quit as they also called on Rishi Sunak's government to ban the installation force of expensive pre-payment meters and hitting energy companies with hefty fines.

"[Ofgem's] chief executive should resign because the regulator has failed to act for the people he is supposed to protect,” Rut h London, co-director of Fuel Poverty Action, told The Independent.

“Instead, suppliers were given carte blanche to enter through breaking into people's homes and installing a meter will leave them cold and dark,” she added, saying many could not afford to refuel.

Magistrates were ordered to stop all warrant applications from companies wanting to enter homes earlier this week after Energy Secretary Grant Shapps and Ofgem asked energy suppliers to voluntarily suspend the activity.

The regulator has also launched an investigation into British Gas' use of debt brokers, affir mant that it was "unacceptable" to impose facilities on vulnerable customers before all others o...