Latest Channel 4 News:
Row over Malaysian state's coins
'Four shot at abandoned mine shaft'
Rain fails to stop Moscow wildfires
Cancer blow for identical twins
Need for Afghan progress 'signs'

Government to stop 'outrageous' energy price hikes

By Channel 4 News

Updated on 21 September 2010

The government may step in if gas and electricity providers continue to impose "outrageous" hidden price hikes on customers, as winter draws in.

Government threatens to intervene in 'outrageous' energy price hikes

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne warned the practice must stop.

Speaking from the Liberal Democrat party conference in Liverpool, Mr Huhne said: "It is outrageous that energy companies have been able to hike up prices without even bothering to tell their customers. I can't think of another example where you start paying more for something without being told about it."

He is due to address the conference in a speech later today.

His warning to energy firms follows regulator Ofgem's launch of a consultation into changing elements of the rules over energy prices.

At the moment, customers can be notified of price alterations up to 65 days after they have already been imposed – something Mr Huhne, and Ofgem, want to change.

"The best result for consumers will be if energy companies don't block the changes that Ofgem will propose," he said.

"But if they do I won't hesitate to use my powers to end for good the practice of surprise energy bill hikes if that's what consultation shows to be necessary."

Mr Huhne also yesterday proposed that green taxes should make up 10 per cent of government revenue by 2015, a motion approved by the party.

The Liberal Democrat conference continues today without the party leader Nick Clegg, who reassured activists yesterday that the coalition government was the "right government for right now".

Mr Clegg flies today to represent Britain at a United Nations summit in New York and Washington.

 


 

Send this article by email

More on this story

Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of external websites.


Watch the Latest Channel 4 News

Watch Channel 4 News when you want

Latest Business & Money news

More News blogs

View RSS feed

Faisal Islam on Twitter

faisalislam

Watching Avinash Persaud utterly brilliant demolition of Basel 3 banking accord at #longfinance conference

Yesterday at 17:18

Follow us

How to tweet

How and why to follow the Channel 4 News family on Twitter.

Most watched

image

Find out which reports and videos are getting people clicking online.




Channel 4 © 2010. Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of external websites.