BRITAIN'S poorest and most vulnerable energy users owe suppliers a total of £1 billion for gas and electricity, campaigners warned today.

The granting of new warrants to force the installation of prepayment meters has been suspended, but the debt remains hanging over hundreds of thousands of households who already have a prepay account.

Energy companies are enforcing repayment by taking a few pounds a week from customers’ prepay meter payments, meaning that they face being disconnected sooner when the money runs out.