Households 'are overcharged for energy'

Article date : 25/06/2009

Written by Tony Harrison

Energy providers in the UK are failing to pass on wholesale gas and electricity price cuts to consumers, meaning many Britons are facing high utility bills, it has been claimed, although investing in a new boiler may help ease some of this financial pressure.

Research by Consumer Focus has revealed that on an annual basis, households are currently paying £13.80 extra on their electricity bills and £60.10 more for their gas.

In light of this, the group has urged that energy providers immediately pass on any wholesale price reductions to the customer.

Philip Cullum, deputy chief executive of Consumer Focus, noted: "Consumers have feared for months that the big six suppliers might not have passed on the full cuts in wholesale energy prices, but the companies claimed to have acted fairly. Our new research for the first time shows the reality."

However, steps could be taken in consumers' own homes to reduce these bills.

The Energy Saving Trust states that the correct heating controls combined with a high-efficiency condensing boiler can reduce annual bills by as much as £235.

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