Call for better energy regulation

Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood urged energy regulator Ofgem to help combat the “profiteering” he feels many energy companies take towards their customers.

His comments come after those made by energy regulator Ofgem, which put pressure on energy companies to pay back what they owed to customers.

Mike Wood said: “My office has dealt with a great deal of complaints about the profiteering and anti-consumer attitude many utility companies adopt towards their customers.

“In particular the issue of inaccurate billing and back billing is a recurring problem. I have made representations to the watchdog Ofgem about this and hope we will see these companies better regulated.”

Ofgem last week urged energy providers to pay back £400m of credit it believes has been left in consumer accounts that were closed.

Andrew Wright, interim chief executive of Ofgem, said: “When many people are struggling to make ends meet, it is vital that energy companies do the right thing and do all they can to return this money and restore consumer trust.”

“We want to see decisive action by suppliers, individually and collectively, to address this issue and, wherever possible, to ensure that the balances they currently hold are returned to consumers.”