Three energy companies accounted for most of the forced prepayment meter installations last year, according to the government.
British Gas, Scottish Power and Ovo Energy accounted for 70% of all forced installations, the data showed.
In total, more than 94,000 prepaid meters were forcibly installed in 2022.
The practice was halted after it emerged that debtors working for British Gas had broken into the homes of vulnerable people to install meters.
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Today’s figures give a clear and startling picture of how widespread the forced installation of prepayment meters has become, with an average of over 7,500 being forcibly installed per month over the past year.
“Prepayment meters are right for some people, so I don’t want to ban them outright, but I do have concerns that companies haven’t treated their customers fairly.”
Figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero showed Centrica-owned British Gas installed 25,000 prepayment meters over the past year, Scottish Power 24,320 and OVO 16,867.
Energy regulator Ofgem announced earlier this month that it was extending the ban on energy companies installing forced prepayment meter installations, which was due to expire at the end of March.
Ofgem boss Jonathan Brearley said the ban would be lifted “only if and when” firms follow the regulator’s new code of conduct.
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