Chris Huhne: Must get tough on big six energy companies
Chris Huhne, energy and climate change secretary, tells the Liberal Democrat conference of his plans to tackle the big six energy companies:
"We are determined to get tough with the big six energy companies to ensure that the consumer gets the best possible deal.
"We want simpler tariffs requiring energy companies to tell you whether you could buy more cheaply on another tariff.
"Ofgem, the independent regulator, calculates that the average household could save £200 by switching to the lowest cost supplier – but fewer than one in seven households do so.
"So I want to help households save money with simpler charging, clearer bills, quicker switching.
"I also want more consumer-friendly firms – co-ops, partnerships, consumer charities – dedicated to doing the shopping around for consumers to make sure that you are always on the best deal, even if you do not have time to check yourself.
"Ofgem should also have new powers to secure redress for consumers – money back for bad behaviour."
