Energy Advice Line calls for better protection for small firms

The Energy Advice Line has joined calls for small businesses to be given the same consumer protections as domestic energy users.

The call comes as it emerged that business energy users would not receive the much-trumpeted announcement of a self-imposed price freeze by Big Six supplier SSE.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for domestic and business energy customers, said the plight of business energy users had been ignored for too long.

He backed calls by the Federation for Small Businesses (FSB) for a better deal for small and micro businesses. The FSB said they were disadvantaged compared to domestic energy users and large companies when taking out energy contracts.

"We support calls by the FSB for micro businesses to be given the same consumer rights as domestic consumers when it comes to energy," Mr Morgan said.

Be Wary of Business Electricity Cold Callers

An unsolicited cold caller has deliberately tricked a Business Electricity customer into a contract by claiming that they were calling from their current supplier, according to Energy Advice Line.

The customer was literally bombarded by calls from this cold caller and quoted to Energy Advice Line that she "could not get anything done in between calls" as the frequency was so high. The customer admitted that she was "badgered into submission" and eventually agreed to sign up.

Unfortunately, this is where the real issues started for this particular customer as when she contacted the supplier in response to a significant increase on her businesses bills she was told that she had been miss-sold the contract by the agency and the liability did not rest with them as the supplier.

Energy Advice Line joins call for price cut

The Energy Advice Line has joined calls for the Big Six energy companies to cut gas and electricity bills for households and businesses following a sharp fall in wholesale costs.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the business electricity price comparison, switching and advice serve for energy users, said it was only fair that customers benefit from lower wholesale energy prices.

"It's now time for the energy regulator to consider putting pressure on suppliers to pass on some of these savings to customers," Mr Morgan said.

"There is no evidence that suppliers intend doing this of their own accord, nor are they making any attempt to explain why not.

"Customers deserve better. Suppliers are quick-off-the-mark to raise their retail prices when the wholesale cost of energy rises, but very slow indeed to react when wholesale prices fall.

"Customers who are struggling to power their homes and businesses pay the price when the wholesale cost of gas goes up. It's only fair they should benefit when it falls."

Energy Advice Line welcomes British Gas penalties

The Energy Advice Line has applauded a decision by OFGEM to make British Gas pay £5.6m in penalties for unfairly blocking business energy users from switching suppliers.

In welcoming the move, Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison and switching service for energy users, said business energy customers had long struggled with problems associated with switching.

Earlier this month the energy regulator ruled that Britain's biggest energy supplier had unfairly blocked business customers from switching to competitors. Nearly 6% of British Gas business account holders who had tried to switch suppliers between 2007 and 2012 had been queried because of outstanding debt or contractual issues.

Government should consider discounts for least well off

The Government should consider introducing energy discounts for the least well off following fresh evidence that the UK's poorest households had been hardest by spiraling energy prices.

Julian Morgan, managing director of the price comparison, switching and advice service for energy users, said the least well off urgently needed extra help to cope with their energy bills.

"The economic downturn has hurt all socio-economic groups, but for the poorest in the community it's been an absolute disaster," Mr Morgan said.

"The evidence is clear that the rising cost of energy has impacted low-income households particularly hard, with fuel bills rising more sharply than the cost of necessities like food and other housing costs.