Overcharging For Energy

It's claimed three in four households are being overcharged on their energy bills.

Figures uncovered by Scottish Labour reveal many Scots are paying up to £250 a year more than their supplier's cheapest tariff would cost them.

The party has reiterated its call for the regulator to be given the power to force energy suppliers to cut bills, and to freeze prices so that bills cannot rise until 2017.

The analysis also reveals:

• 75% of households are on their supplier’s standard variable tariff.
• On average the standard variable tariff is over £180 a year more expensive than the cheapest tariff, with some customers paying nearly £250 a year more.

MPs and MSPs want the regulator to be given the power to force energy suppliers to cut bills, and to freeze prices so that bills cannot rise until 2017.

Tom Greatrex MP, Scottish Labour’s Shadow Energy Minister, said: "More than two years after David Cameron promised to make energy companies put all customers on the lowest tariff, millions of households in Scotland are still being routinely overcharged by hundreds of pounds every single year.

“That's why the next Labour Government will freeze energy prices until 2017, so that bills can fall but not rise, give the regulator the power to force energy suppliers to cut their prices and end overcharging once and for all.”