Consumer Energy Minister, Martin Lewis and Ofgem among witnesses for back-billing and home retrofit session

Despite clear rules set out by the energy regulator Ofgem, thousands of customers have found themselves in receipt of outdated or inaccurate energy bills as energy companies seek to recoup losses from internal billing errors. In many cases, the rising cost of energy and the unreliable nature of smart meters are compounding the issue and the impact on vulnerable consumers. 

The committee will first hear from Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis and then Ofgem representatives. MPs will likely question the scale of the energy back-billing issue, examine the current consumer rights and protections and could ask if enough is being done to hold energy suppliers to account. 

Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, will appear before the Committee in the second part of the session. MPs are likely to begin with questions related to issues raised in the first part of the session, before moving on to examine retrofit failures. 

MPs are likely to question the Minister on the evidence heard in the Committee’s previous sessions on Retrofitting homes for net zero and question how consumer confidence can be restored in the sector. Questions could also focus on the feasibility of delivering home retrofit at pace, without compromising on standards. 

Witnesses from 3:00pm: 

• Martin Lewis CBE, Founder and Executive Chair at MoneySavingExpert 

From 3:30pm: 

• Beth Martin, Director for Consumer Protection and Competition at Ofgem 
• Tim Jarvis, Director General for Markets at Ofgem 

From 4pm: 

• Miatta Fahnbulleh, Minister for Energy Consumers at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 
• Jessica Skilbeck, Director, Net Zero Buildings at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 
• Jane Walker, Director for Energy Affordability & Consumers at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: House of Commons