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26 April 2004 - UK Energy regulator Ofgem today unveiled for consultation industry proposals to protect vulnerable energy customers from having their gas and electricity cut off.
The proposals will provide an additional safety net for vulnerable customers - and respond directly to an Ofgem challenge earlier this year for industry to do more to identify and help prevent vulnerable customers from being disconnected.
Ofgem's Chairman, Sir John Mogg said: "I am pleased the industry has responded quickly and positively to my challenge two months ago to review their approach to disconnecting vulnerable customers. There needs to be much greater effort towards identifying those who are vulnerable so that support can be targeted effectively
"Tackling fuel poverty is a key priority for Ofgem. These proposals demonstrate a real commitment by industry to identify and protect vulnerable customers. That commitment now needs to be translated into action so that vulnerable customers can benefit to the full from this additional safety net.
"This is a good example of where industry-led action in a particularly difficult policy area can be used rather than reaching for regulation."
Also welcoming the proposals is Energy Minister, Stephen Timms. He said: "It is vital that arrangements governing disconnections contain proper safeguards for all consumers, and particularly vulnerable customers. This Ofgem initiative has resulted in the industry and the Information Commissioner, with our encouragement, clarifying and improving the existing arrangements, and I welcome this consultation paper, which is the fruit of that work."
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