There's record levels of people on pre-payment meters in North East Lincolnshire

There's a call for a ban on energy companies forcing people in North East Lincolnshire onto prepayment meters, as millions struggle with their bills.

We're hearing there's record levels of people on these meters, including those in North East Lincolnshire, that are struggling to keep the lights on, and keep the house warm.

Citizens Advice says more people were unable to afford topping up in 2022 than the whole of the last 10 years combined.

Chief Executive of North East Lincolnshire's Citizen's Advice branch, Tony Gaskins, tells us more:

"Well, prepayment meters are really installed to help people to budget. That was the idea behind them, to make it easier for people to actually budget money. However, the problems we're having with them now, in the middle of a cost of living crisis, is people have insufficient incomes to be able to top them up regularly. Also, another problem that we're finding now is that people are being forced onto prepayment meters when it's not the best option for them.

"We're increasingly worried about the high number of people, who have been self- disconnected because they can't afford to top up their prepayment meters, and we're now seeing record numbers of people doing that, and it's across the board. It's people with disabilities, it's single parent's, even families, it's people in work and it's something that we're really worried about."

Tony says it's something that isn't suitable for everyone and could leave many people living in cold and dark homes.

He also added, "with the advent of smart meters coming in, the energy companies can switch you to a prepayment meter at the flick of a switch."

Citizens Advice also found that, over 3 million people in the country ran out of credit on their prepayment meter last year.

Tony says this can not continue:

"We know that there's a raft of health problems and physical health problems, around living in a cold, dark, empty, damp house. We also know that it's affecting people's mental health. People are coming to us with depression and anxiety, that's either been made worse by the pre-payment meter problem, or it's triggered it in the first place.

"So it's across the board, it's causing physical and mental anguish for people, and it's causing difficulties for advice agencies across the area to try and find solutions for people when they just don't have the money to top up."

Citizens Advice have urged anyone facing this issue to check their website on what to do.