Is energy access a human right?
When #energy suppliers refuse to serve someone, are they violating #humanRights?
Note:
* heating during the winter keeps people alive
* refrigeration keeps food safe
* some people rely on life-support systems that require electricity
OTOH, the above needs can be met using PV panels, batteries, a tent inside the house for extra insulation, etc. So it’s a messy question.
For the #poll below:
HR=human right
DoHR= #UN Declaration of Human Rights (#UNDoHR)
[ ] energy is a HR both philosophically & per DoHR
[ ] energy is a HR philosophically but NOT by DoHR
[ ] energy is not a HR philosophically but is per DoHR
[ ] energy is NOT a HR philosophically or by DoHR
Thanks for the info. I wonder if those meters take cash, or if they take no money at all and perhaps they are just a remote controlled switch. One of my concerns is whether unbanked people can pay in cash.
They have a plastic key that has to be topped up at a shop which offers the service. You can only pay in cash (something to do with card fraud, apparently). I assume it is the same when they cut people off remotely via their smart meter but I don’t know how the credit is physically transferred to those.
I am blocked from #newsAndStar but was able to reach the article this way:
http://web.archive.org/web/20230202102237/www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/national/23293213.british-gas-suspends-force-fitting-prepayment-meters-debt-agent-report/
Thanks for the info. I wonder if those meters take cash, or if they take no money at all and perhaps they are just a remote controlled switch. One of my concerns is whether unbanked people can pay in cash.
They have a plastic key that has to be topped up at a shop which offers the service. You can only pay in cash (something to do with card fraud, apparently). I assume it is the same when they cut people off remotely via their smart meter but I don’t know how the credit is physically transferred to those.