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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron calls for action to cut energy bills | David Cameron calls for action to cut energy bills |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The government needs to work "harder and faster" to bring down energy bills, the prime minister has said ahead of a summit on gas and electricity prices. | The government needs to work "harder and faster" to bring down energy bills, the prime minister has said ahead of a summit on gas and electricity prices. |
| The energy secretary has invited the six biggest power firms to meet consumer groups and regulator Ofgem. | The energy secretary has invited the six biggest power firms to meet consumer groups and regulator Ofgem. |
| Writing ahead of the meeting, Mr Cameron said they wanted to work out how to create a "trusted, simple and transparent" market. | Writing ahead of the meeting, Mr Cameron said they wanted to work out how to create a "trusted, simple and transparent" market. |
| British Gas and nPower will pledge not to raise prices again this year. | British Gas and nPower will pledge not to raise prices again this year. |
| Last month Labour leader Ed Miliband attacked the "rigged" market in Britain, while Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said he planned to "get tough" with the firms. | Last month Labour leader Ed Miliband attacked the "rigged" market in Britain, while Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said he planned to "get tough" with the firms. |
| Regulator Ofgem has just revealed a rise in firms' profit margins from £15 to £125 per customer - figures challenged by the industry. | Regulator Ofgem has just revealed a rise in firms' profit margins from £15 to £125 per customer - figures challenged by the industry. |
| Ofgem has also announced plans to simplify tariffs in order to allow customers to compare prices more easily. | Ofgem has also announced plans to simplify tariffs in order to allow customers to compare prices more easily. |
| Last week one firm, SSE, said its power would be sold on the open market rather than going straight to its supply arm. | |
| Experts say if the other five big firms followed suit it could save customers a lot of money. | Experts say if the other five big firms followed suit it could save customers a lot of money. |
| Reduce wastage | Reduce wastage |
| In a joint statement with Mr Huhne on the MoneySavingExpert.com website, Mr Cameron said they could not control volatile world energy prices, "but we can still help people get their bills down". | |
| "The easiest ways to get energy bills down quickly are to get people paying the lowest possible tariffs and to reduce the amount of energy that is wasted," the statement added. | "The easiest ways to get energy bills down quickly are to get people paying the lowest possible tariffs and to reduce the amount of energy that is wasted," the statement added. |
| "Our intention is for today's summit to be the start of a much more active engagement with consumers, with us all working harder and faster to deliver an energy market that is trusted, simple and transparent." | "Our intention is for today's summit to be the start of a much more active engagement with consumers, with us all working harder and faster to deliver an energy market that is trusted, simple and transparent." |
| But shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint insisted the government's "warm words" wouldn't "heat homes during a bitter winter". | But shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint insisted the government's "warm words" wouldn't "heat homes during a bitter winter". |
| "They're unable to take on vested interests, they won't tackle the spiralling prices imposed by the energy giants, they won't investigate the mis-selling of energy and they won't help the pensioners whose winter fuel payments have been cut," she said. | "They're unable to take on vested interests, they won't tackle the spiralling prices imposed by the energy giants, they won't investigate the mis-selling of energy and they won't help the pensioners whose winter fuel payments have been cut," she said. |
| £1,000 barrier | £1,000 barrier |
| The cost of gas and electricity has risen by up to 18% in the past few weeks, with the cheapest dual-fuel deals - for those with online deals - having broken the £1,000 barrier for the first time. | The cost of gas and electricity has risen by up to 18% in the past few weeks, with the cheapest dual-fuel deals - for those with online deals - having broken the £1,000 barrier for the first time. |
| This prompted the Department of Energy to call the summit to examine ways in which customers can take action to save money. | This prompted the Department of Energy to call the summit to examine ways in which customers can take action to save money. |
| But the consumers' association Which? said the meeting should look at more fundamental factors affecting the market. | But the consumers' association Which? said the meeting should look at more fundamental factors affecting the market. |
| "This summit has to address longer-term issues too, like being clearer about what is driving price increases and identifying ways for energy companies to start rebuilding trust with consumers," said executive director Richard Lloyd. | "This summit has to address longer-term issues too, like being clearer about what is driving price increases and identifying ways for energy companies to start rebuilding trust with consumers," said executive director Richard Lloyd. |
| "We need commitments from suppliers and the government to put an end to practices that harm consumers and action to create a competitive energy market that works for everyone." | "We need commitments from suppliers and the government to put an end to practices that harm consumers and action to create a competitive energy market that works for everyone." |
| Mike O'Connor, chief executive of watchdog Consumer Focus, said: "With winter round the corner, millions of people across the country will be worried about their energy bills. | Mike O'Connor, chief executive of watchdog Consumer Focus, said: "With winter round the corner, millions of people across the country will be worried about their energy bills. |
| "Many of the most vulnerable households will be facing difficult decisions about whether to heat their homes or cut back on other essentials. | "Many of the most vulnerable households will be facing difficult decisions about whether to heat their homes or cut back on other essentials. |
| "Government, energy firms and consumer organisations have a responsibility to make sure that consumers get all the help they need to cut their bills. We are committed to doing what we can to make sure consumers can keep warm and control their costs." | "Government, energy firms and consumer organisations have a responsibility to make sure that consumers get all the help they need to cut their bills. We are committed to doing what we can to make sure consumers can keep warm and control their costs." |
| Simplification plan | Simplification plan |
| The regulator also published its simplification plan, which said suppliers would be forced to have no-frills tariffs, which would consist of a standing charge - fixed by the regulator - plus a unit charge for energy used. | The regulator also published its simplification plan, which said suppliers would be forced to have no-frills tariffs, which would consist of a standing charge - fixed by the regulator - plus a unit charge for energy used. |
| It means the only number consumers would have to compare between suppliers would be the unit energy charge. | It means the only number consumers would have to compare between suppliers would be the unit energy charge. |
| Ofgem will publish its detailed proposals for consultation next month and hopes to have implemented some of its reforms in time for winter 2012. | Ofgem will publish its detailed proposals for consultation next month and hopes to have implemented some of its reforms in time for winter 2012. |