A judge has granted a debt collection agency warrants to forcibly enter people's homes to fit pre-payment metres on behalf of Scottish Power.
Though the forced fittings cannot be carried out without Ofgem’s approval, the warrants mark the first to be granted since the regulator imposed a ban on the practice earlier this year.
This had been in response to an investigation by The Times, which revealed poor behaviour toward vulnerable customers by debt collectors acting on behalf of British Gas.
Under new rules, no suppliers can carry out involuntary pre-payment meter fittings unless they meet strict criteria laid out by Ofgem. Failing to do so can result in hefty fines.
District Judge Samuel Goozee heard a selection of 124 applications made by Scottish Gas to the Berkshire Magistrates Court in Reading asking to fit pre-payment meters.
These were often in the homes of customers who were thousands of pounds in debt to the energy supplier.
According to Scottish Gas, which is owned by Iberdrola, attempts had been made previously to contact these customers, including via visits to their properties.
Goozee granted warrants for all 124 of the applications, with Scottish Power reassuring pre-payment meters would not be fitted in the homes of vulnerable people, while £30 credit would be added to those that are.
An Ofgem spokesperson commented: "Ofgem put a set of clear conditions in place, which suppliers must meet before they can restart the involuntary installation of prepayment meters.
“To date, no supplier has met those conditions and until they do no warrants to install a meter should be executed.
"We are aware that courts are running pilot schemes to test the application process for warrants. However, our expectation of suppliers is clear."