Hence why I said "access to power". The argument being that if you top up, you can still get gas and/or electric, unlike being totally disconnected. Not saying I agree with the process (I don't), merely that there are differences for residential and commercial.
As it stands, energy suppliers are not allowed to leave a residential property without access to power. They can go to court to get a warrant to enter and install a pre-pay. That will then be programmed to reclaim the debt in increments leaving already struggling people to choose between food or...