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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| 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 were excused from paying some of the environmental and social levies. | Tony Cocker, the chief executive of E.On, said small companies were excused from paying some of the environmental and social levies. |
| Such levies make up between 8% to 9% of the average bill. | Such levies make up between 8% to 9% of the average bill. |
| The news come amid speculation that the Prime Minister may order a Competition Commission inquiry into the market. | The news come amid speculation that the Prime Minister may order a Competition Commission inquiry into the market. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Cocker told MPs that there should be a full investigation. He and seven other company bosses were called before the Energy and Climate Change Committee to justify recent price rises. | On Tuesday, Mr Cocker told MPs that there should be a full investigation. He and seven other company bosses were called before the Energy and Climate Change Committee to justify recent price rises. |
| Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Mr Cocker said: "The small companies are exempt from a number of environmental and social obligations. Not all, but some of them." | Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Mr Cocker said: "The small companies are exempt from a number of environmental and social obligations. Not all, but some of them." |
| Energy firms with less than 250,000 customers do not have to pay the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO), or the Warm Home Discount. Together those account for £58 on an average bill. | Energy firms with less than 250,000 customers do not have to pay the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO), or the Warm Home Discount. Together those account for £58 on an average bill. |
| Prices | Prices |
| 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. | "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 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 Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) puts the figure at £112, or about 9%. |
| At Prime Minister's questions, David Cameron repeated his pledge to consider "rolling back" some of the levies. | |
| "What we need is more competition, and lower levies and charges to drive prices down," he said. | |
| But the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, accused him of changing his mind on levies. | |
| "In January he was boasting about the size of his levies. He was saying the bigger, the better. Now he's saying the opposite," said Mr Miliband. | |
| "Most companies don't want a price freeze," he added, "and most consumers do." | |
| Mr Cameron said that it was not a "price freeze", but a "price con." |