Additional Charges for Utility Bills Not Paid by Direct Debit (Limits) Bill

A Bill to limit levels of additional amounts charged by utility companies on bills not paid by direct debit; and for connected purposes.

Originating House

House of Commons

Last Updated

15 May 2014

In Plain English

AI-generated

The bill would cap the extra charges that utility companies can add to bills when customers do not pay by direct debit. It aims to make non-direct-debit bills fairer for households and small businesses, reducing the extra costs faced by those paying by other methods. The bill is currently at the second reading in the House of Commons.

Key Points

Caps the level of additional charges on non-direct-debit bills.
Applies to all relevant utility providers and their customers.
Outlines how charges are calculated and monitored.
Includes connected purposes enabling related regulatory measures.
Aims to protect consumers who pay by non-direct-debit methods.

Progress

The bill is at the second reading in the House of Commons. If it progresses, it would move to the committee stage for detailed scrutiny and amendment.

Who is affected?

Households and small businesses that pay utility bills by methods other than direct debitUtility companies/providers subject to the new limitsConsumer groups and watchdogs monitoring billing fairness

Generated 21 February 2026

Updates & Documents

News (1)

News - Additional Charges for Utility Bills Not Paid by Direct Debit (Limits)

1 Jan 1970

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress.

Parliamentary Votes (0)

No recorded votes for this bill yet.

Additional Charges for Utility Bills Not Paid by Direct Debit (Limits) Bill | TrackPolitics