EDF “must be clearer” on price rise, says Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice has responded to EDF’s announcement that the supplier is raising prices of its standard electricity tariff.

Victoria MacGregor, Director of Energy at Citizens Advice, said:

“EDF must be clearer in explaining why this price increase is necessary.

“Like British Gas earlier this week, EDF cites Ofgem’s reasoning for upping the prepayment meter cap - wholesale and policy cost increases - to explain its own rise. But this doesn’t fully explain why the supplier needs to increase its standard variable tariff, or why the tariff remains higher than the prepayment meter cap.

“Customers who pay by direct debit, cash or cheque are cheaper to serve than prepayment customers, so further explanation for this price hike is needed.

“This latest rise shows why the Government should implement its total price cap as soon as possible, to protect consumers from poor value default tariffs.”

Notes to editors

  1. Citizens Advice has a statutory role as the consumer advocate for energy consumers across the UK.

  2. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local Citizens Advice, 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 .

  3. 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.

  4. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk

  5. 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.

  6. Local Citizens Advice in England and Wales advised 2.5 million clients on 6.2 million problems in 2014/15. For full service statistics see our publication  Advice trends .

  7. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.