Wednesday 21 September 2011
Consumer champion uSwitch's Director of Consumer Policy has criticised the government and the regulator Ofgem for not protecting consumers from big bills and has suggested a return to price controls may be needed.
Speaking at Future Energy Strategies' 'Increasing Competition in the UK's Electricity Market' event in London earlier this week, Ann Robinson said: "I don't like regulation but Ofgem have to think about doing more. Maybe price controls need to be brought back in. A better answer would be new entrants."
The Big Six utilities- British Gas, SSE, E.ON, EDF, Scottish Power and npower currently control 99% of the UK's energy market.
Mrs Robinson said power companies weren't serving customers and as a result had lost their trust. She added that new policies weren't helping: "We have lost sight of affordability through the EMR. We need a staged approach to replacing generation."
Responding to the Energy Secretary's speech at the Liberal Democrat's Party Conference, Ofgem welcomed the possibility of increased powers to protect customers.
Other uSwitch stories:
Consumer groups hail Huhne’s ‘hard hitting’ measures
EDF pull cheapest tariff as market prepares for more price rises
Big Six expected to raise prices