By Nina Chestney
LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - The British government has
agreed emergency measures with the energy industry to ensure
vulnerable households remain supplied with power during the
disruption caused by the novel coronavirus, it said on Thursday.
From Thursday onwards, customers with pre-payment meters who
are unable to add credit can approach their suppliers to discuss
other options to maintain power. That has the potential to
benefit over 4 million households.
Disconnection of credit meters will be completely suspended,
while energy customers in financial distress can also ask their
suppliers for debt repayments and bill payments to be
reassessed, reduced or paused, the government said.
The agreement has been signed by all UK domestic energy
suppliers and will come into force immediately.
Britain's biggest energy suppliers, including Centrica's
British Gas, SSE, EDF's EDF Energy,
Iberdrola's Scottish Power, control around 70% of the
retail energy market.
There are also around 50 smaller suppliers, including Bulb
and Octopus Energy.
"Today those most in need can rest assured that a secure
supply of energy will continue to flow into their homes during
this difficult time," UK Secretary of State for Business and
Energy Alok Sharma said.
On Wednesday Britain's National Grid said it had
plans in place to keep the lights on throughout the coronavirus
outbreak as more people than usual remain at home.
The chief executive of Energy Networks Association, David
Smith, said Britain's electricity and gas network is reliable,
and more than 36,000 employees are working to continue to
provide a safe and reliable supply of energy.
(Reporting by Nina Chestney; Editing by Jan Harvey)