Hastings and Rye MP writes to energy companies over lower bills

When she was made Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change last month one of her priorities was to ‘shout loud’ about the benefits of switching energy tarrifs.

While one consumer group argued that firms had ‘run out of excuses for not cutting bills’, the national body which represents energy companies said they working hard to provide value for money.

Mrs Rudd said: “My focus is to get the best deal for consumers and the Department is working hard to keep energy bills as low as possible.

“That is why I have written to energy companies asking them what their plans are to lower bills for hardworking British bill payers.”

A report by Which? Magazine released earlier this year found that the failure of retail prices to align with wholesale costs meant consumers were out of pocket by a total £2.9bn over the previous year, an equivalent of £145 per household on standard energy tariffs.

Richard Lloyd, executive director at Which?, said: “Energy firms have totally run out of excuses for not cutting our bills.

“It’s good that ministers are acting but we now need to see suppliers do the right thing, and fast.

“If they don’t play ball it will add weight to the case for the competition authority to step in and force the energy firms to make bills fair.”

However Energy UK, which represents the major energy firms, said that energy suppliers were working hard to provide a good service and value for money to their customers.

Lawrence Slade, chief executive at Energy UK, said: “More companies are entering the market and by shopping around customers can find deals that are both cheaper than this time last year and which match individual circumstances.

“Our members will be replying to the Secretary of State in due course and the industry as a whole is keen to work constructively with the new government to ensure energy security at a price everyone can afford.”

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