"Cloak and dagger tariffs" squeezing households, says Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice responds to Energy Select Committee

As Energy company bosses come under scrutiny from MPs on the Energy Select Committee this afternoon, national charity Citizens Advice reveals a huge rise in the number of people seeking help about energy bills on its website since the announcement of the first price hike on 10 October.

Since the first price rise this winter, as many as 41,210 people sought online advice about energy between 10 and 28 October 2013, compared to 26,539 during the 18 days prior to the price increase (21 September to 9 October 2013).

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

“Energy suppliers have shown a complete disregard for their customers' squeezed budgets by consistently raising prices year after year.  For many families there is no financial buffer to cope with increasing energy costs and many are driven into debt or forced to  choose between putting food on the table or heating their home.   

“The huge rise in the number of people seeking help on our website since the first price rise shows more and more people are worried about how they'll pay their bills.

“We need a competitive and transparent energy market , not the cloak and dagger tariffs and pricing structures that customers face right now.  At the moment, the lack of transparency in the energy market makes it extremely difficult for families to shop around to get a better price.

“We urgently need fundamental reform of the energy market so that hard-pressed households are put front and centre. "

Notes to editors:

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website .

  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.

  3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk . You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk

  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers

  5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends

  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.