Energy company OVO Energy is introducing new monthly charges for its customers, which MPs say will affect older people.

The energy supplier, which has more than four million customers in the UK, is set to start charging a monthly fee of £1.50 to customers who still want to receive paper bills.

Fees will start in December, meaning it will cost £18 a year to keep paper billing.

OVO said it would write to its customers who still receive paper statements to inform them of the change and charges before the changes are implemented in December.

Although MPs have expressed concern about the possible effects on older customers, all elderly customers can sign up to the Priority Services Register to avoid charges and OVO says it will also exempt those it believes should appear on the PSR.

The letter is expected to include a QR code that customers can scan and opt-in to receive paperless billing starting in December and avoid the new fees.

But some vulnerable customers will not be billed even if they continue to receive paper bills, OVO said, including those on the priority services register, those with adaptive communications, customers who OVO believes should be on the register of priority services and clients who may be financially vulnerable.

These customers will instead be offered a PDF of their invoice.

MPs expressed concern over the changes and called on OVO to reverse its decision.

On November 6, MPs tabled a motion in the House of Commons regarding OVO Energy, which was signed by 16 Liberal Democrats, two independent MPs and one Labor MP.

He said: “That this House notes with concern the intention of OVO Energy to introduce monthly charges for customers who receive their bills in paper format from December; considers that such a tax is counterproductive as families continue to face high energy costs, particularly as winter approaches; further notes that such a change risks disadvantaging older people and other vulnerable people, even while allowing for planned mitigation measures; and calls on OVO Energy to immediately reverse this harmful and unnecessary decision.

In response, an OVO spokesperson said: “Like most energy providers, we already send digital communications to most customers.

“We still offer paper communications to anyone on the priority services register, those who receive tailored communications and anyone who needs additional financial support.”