03/02/2015

Energy Prices Could Have Been Reduced Sooner - Which?

Energy bills could have been cut further and sooner, according to new research.

A report by Which? revealed the failure of retail prices to align with wholesale costs has cost consumers £2.9bn over the last year, an equivalent of £145 per household on standard energy tariffs.

The recent cuts in Big Six standard gas tariffs of up to 5.1% should have been greater, in the region of 8.8% to 10.3%, if they were to align with wholesale energy costs.

Which? executive director, Richard Lloyd said: "Our analysis places a massive question mark over how suppliers have been setting prices over the last two years. They now need to explain to their customers why bills don't fall further in response to dropping wholesale prices. Energy bills are consistently the top consumer concern so it’s about time people got a fair deal.

"While the competition inquiry should establish beyond doubt whether the price people are paying today is right, consumers will now look to politicians of every party to set out how they'll deliver fair and affordable energy prices in the future."

(CD/IT)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

10 October 2013
SSE To Increase Tariffs By 8.2%
SSE has said it is to increase its household energy tariffs from 15 November 2013. Customers of the energy firm will see an average rise of 8.2% in gas and electricity prices. The company has said the rise is reflective of the higher costs of buying wholesale energy, as well as paying to deliver it to customers' houses, plus government levies.
11 January 2012
EDF Energy Reduce Gas Prices By 5%
EDF Energy has announced it will cut its gas prices by 5% – becoming the first major supplier in 2012 to announce it will pass on falling wholesale prices to its customers. The company was the last of the major suppliers to raise its energy prices in the autumn.
10 June 2014
Call For Energy Suppliers To Explain Prices To Customers
Energy regulator Ofgem has called on the Big Six energy suppliers to explain to their customers what impact falling wholesale costs will have on their energy prices.
23 April 2014
Eight Renewable Energy Projects Approved
Plans for eight major renewable energy projects have been approved by the government as part of energy measures, expected to generate enough clean power for three million homes, support 8,500 new jobs and attract more than £12bn in private investment.
24 September 2008
EDF To Takeover British Energy
The Government welcomed EDF's proposed £12.5 billion takeover offer for British Energy Group and the British Energy Board's recommendation of the offer to its shareholders. The Government has committed to accept the cash offer of 774p per share for its 36% stake held by the Nuclear Liabilities Fund (NLF), subject to certain conditions.