Energywatch slams high prices for poorest customers

Consumer group Energywatch has slammed rival utility providers Powergen and Npower for not reducing prices for their poorest customers. The two companies are introducing lower prices from today (Monday)†but not all customers will see the benefit.

Npower’s prepayment meter electricity customers will see no cut in tariff, while Powergen has only given meter customers for gas and electricity a reduced per cent discount.

Energywatch has called for both companies to “play fair” by reducing prices for their poorer customers.

Energywatch director of campaigns Adam Scorer says: “Targeting price cuts in this way widens the gap between the bills paid by poorer and well off customers. All customers shared the pain as prices rose by 94% on gas and 60% on electricity over the last few years.

“With wholesale prices reducing, the instinct from some energy companies is only to compete for the valuable direct debit customer. Energy companies should have a responsibility to price fairly for all their customers and especially for those who can least afford punishing energy bills.”