The boss of the Energy Networks Association (ENA) is warning anyone who tampers with their energy meter might be setting off a "ticking time bomb" within their own home, after a spike in people trying to bypass the device.
Energy networks have joined forces to warn households against trying to get free gas or electricity by fiddling with their meters. Between 2017 and 2021 there was a nearly 400% rise in interference with energy equipment and officials think this will continue to rise in 2022, the ENA said.
It added that people have caused house fires, gas leaks and electrocuted themselves when trying to cut through wires and pipes. David Spillett, head of safety, health and environment at the ENA, said: “Tampering with your meter can create a ticking time bomb in your home.”
He continued: “The UK's electrical and gas engineers are highly trained professionals who ensure your home's power system is entirely safe - tampering with their work risks serious harm to yourself, neighbours and your loved ones and damage to your property that will not be covered by insurance - it's just not worth the risk.
"If you are struggling to pay your energy bill, please speak to your energy supplier or contact Citizen's Advice for free and impartial advice."
The warning comes days after the price of electricity and gas soared to a new record.
Although the UK Government has capped electricity prices at 34p per unit of electricity and 10.3p per unit of gas, households are still facing energy bills around twice as high as last year.
The £2,500 Energy Price Guarantee will replace Ofgem’s price cap until 2024, but it’s important to be aware that if you use more energy, your bills will be higher and similarly, if you use less, your bills will be lower.
Every household with a domestic electricity account will automatically qualify for the £400 non-repayable grant which will see a discount of £66 applied to their energy bills in October and November, rising to £67 each month from December through to March 2023. The discount will be provided on a monthly basis regardless of whether consumers pay monthly, quarterly or have an associated payment card.
Smart prepayment meter customers will see the discount credited directly to their smart prepayment meters in the first week of each month. However, traditional prepayment meter customers will be provided with redeemable vouchers or Special Action Messages (SAMs) in the first week of each month, issued via SMS text, email or post - customers will need to take action to redeem these at their usual top-up point.
Who is eligible for the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme?
All households with a domestic electricity connection in Great Britain are eligible for the £400 discount. There is no need to contact energy suppliers as it will be paid automatically - nobody needs to apply for this UK-wide support.
How will I receive the discount?
The £400 discount will be administered by suppliers and paid to customers over six months with payments starting from October 2022.
This discount will be applied as follows:
- October - £66
- November - £66
- December - £67
- January - £67
- February - £67
- March - £67
The BEIS said that the discount will be provided on a monthly basis regardless of whether consumers pay monthly, quarterly or have an associated payment card.
If you do not receive the first instalment by the end of October, you should contact your energy supplier.
How each monthly payment will be made
Breakdown of the delivery process for each payment method:
- Direct debit customers - will receive the discount automatically as a reduction to the monthly direct debit amount collected, or as a refund to their bank account following direct debit collection during each month of delivery
- Standard credit customers and payment card customers - will see the discount automatically applied as a credit to standard credit customers’ accounts in the first week of each month of delivery, with the credit appearing as it would if the customer had made a payment
- Smart prepayment meter customers - will see the discount credited directly to their smart prepayment meters in the first week of each month of delivery
- Traditional prepayment meter customers - will be provided with redeemable vouchers or Special Action Messages (SAMs) in the first week of each month, issued via SMS text, email or post. Customers will need to take action to redeem these at their usual top-up point
Support for people without a direct electricity connection
The UK Government has also said that the £400 discount to households starting from October will also be available to the 1% of households who would not otherwise have received this support.
Additional funding will be made available so that £400 payments will be extended to include people such as park home residents and those tenants whose landlords pay for their energy via a commercial contract.
The UK Government said it is committed to ensuring such households receive the same support for their energy bills and will introduce legislation to make sure landlords pass the EBSS discount on to tenants who pay all-inclusive bills.
The Uk Government will also provide an additional payment of £100 to households across the UK who are not able to receive support for their heating costs through the Energy Price Guarantee.
This might be because they live in an area of the UK that is not served by the gas grid and is to compensate for the rising costs of alternative fuels such as heating oil.
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