Households with solar panels risk being overcharged by smart meters Households with solar panels risk being overcharged on their energy bills if they have a smart meter fitted, it can be revealed. Some have seen their energy bills more than treble after smart meters have been installed. This is because, while the two devices are capable of…
The new automatic energy switching service launches A new automatic energy switching service that promises to move you whenever a cheaper deal comes along launches today. Weflip, from price comparison firm Gocompare, is a website that will continually search to identify a cheaper energy tariff – which it will then move you to. Auto-switching uses computer…
Citizens Advice files super complaint over utility customers’ £4bn ‘loyalty penalty’ Mobile, broadband, home insurance, mortgage and savings customers who stay with their provider pay an extra £877 per year Citizens Advice has lodged a super complaint with the competition watchdog after finding that customers who stay with the same provider are paying £4.1bn extra in “loyalty…
Energy firms face fire from regulator on handling of complaints Ofgem says it is clear that satisfaction among customers remains “unacceptably low” and it is taking further action to address it. The energy regulator has revealed a growing list of household suppliers at risk of facing action over their handling of customer complaints. Ofgem…
Energy supplier trusted by Ofgem is fined over mis-selling Ofgem has penalised a small energy supplier for mis-selling only months after entrusting it to take on 10,000 customers from a defunct rival. Green Star Energy has agreed to pay £679,283 in compensation after Ofgem received a tip-off that it was signing up new customers via…
Customers who were charged £6 for ringing Yorkshire Water have been offered a refund. It comes after the water firm contacted the Phone-Paid Service Authority (PSA), after receiving a complaint from a customer. The PSA upheld YW’s complaint after finding a website quoting premium-rate numbers for customers to call the company. The official…
Nearly 500 homes get free gas grid connection Cadent and Affordable Warmth Solutions are working to connect Bracknell residents to a new gas network. Cadent and Affordable Warmth Solutions (AWS) have launched a new gas connection scheme in Bracknell. The £1.4 million project will allow nearly 500 hundred homes to enjoy a new energy efficient heating system expected to…
Npower-SSE merger wins go-ahead from competition watchdog Big six shrinks to big five as CMA clears way for major shakeup of energy sector The competition watchdog has provisionally given the green light to the merger of npower and the retail arm of SSE, removing the final hurdle to the biggest shakeup of the energy sector in…
Hosepipe ban cancelled days before coming into force The company says it does not want to “inconvenience” its customers in the North West who have been making efforts to save water. United Utilities has cancelled its hosepipe ban days before it was due to start after rainfall replenished the water supply. The company was due…