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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Small energy firms 'escape levies' | Small energy firms 'escape levies' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The head of one of the UK's biggest energy companies has suggested that smaller providers have an unfair cost advantage. | The head of one of the UK's biggest energy companies has suggested that smaller providers have an unfair cost advantage. |
| Tony Cocker, the chief executive of E.On, said small companies are excused from paying some of the environmental and social levies. | Tony Cocker, the chief executive of E.On, said small companies are excused from paying some of the environmental and social levies. |
| Such levies make up between 8% to 9% of the average bill. | |
| One of the smaller companies, Ovo Energy, has claimed that its bills are up to 13% lower than its rivals. | One of the smaller companies, Ovo Energy, has claimed that its bills are up to 13% lower than its rivals. |
| The claim comes after the bosses of eight energy companies appeared before MPs on Tuesday to justify recent price rises. | The claim comes after the bosses of eight energy companies appeared before MPs on Tuesday to justify recent price rises. |
| "The small companies are exempt from a number of environmental and social obligations," Tony Cocker told the BBC's Today Programme. "Not all, but some of them." | "The small companies are exempt from a number of environmental and social obligations," Tony Cocker told the BBC's Today Programme. "Not all, but some of them." |
| Stephen Fitzpatrick, the managing director of Ovo Energy, claimed that his firm could cut bills for many consumers. | Stephen Fitzpatrick, the managing director of Ovo Energy, claimed that his firm could cut bills for many consumers. |
| "I can tell you, of the four companies that have raised their prices, we are around £160 cheaper. So that's about 12% to 13% for a customer of average consumption," Mr Fitzpatrick told the BBC. | |
| Ovo raised its prices by 5.8% in April 2013. | Ovo raised its prices by 5.8% in April 2013. |
| So far this month, British Gas, SSE, Scottish Power and Npower have raised prices by an average of 9.1%. | So far this month, British Gas, SSE, Scottish Power and Npower have raised prices by an average of 9.1%. |
| The regulator, Ofgem, estimates that levies add about £107 a year to an average bill, or 8%. | |
| The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) puts the figure at £112, or about 9%. | |
| The Prime Minister has already pledged to consider "rolling back" some of the levies. |