Energy firms 'overcharging customers £120'

Updated
Energy firms overcharging customers £120
Energy firms overcharging customers £120



Energy giants have not passed on dramatic falls in wholesale prices meaning customers are overpaying by the tune of £120 a year, a price comparison site has claimed.

Over the last two years, wholesale gas prices have tumbled 36% while electricity has come down 20%, according to Energyhelpline.

This should have resulted in savings of 18% on gas and 7% on electricity bills, but instead customers have seen no cuts in Big Six standard prices on electricity and just an average of 4.7% on gas.

"There is a huge mismatch between wholesale price cuts and what savings are being passed on to the customer," the company said in a release.

"This points to the fact that it is the energy giants who are benefiting the most at the expense of the consumer."

Its data suggested consumers could save an average of £275 by switching to the cheapest energy deal on the market.

It also called on customers to check prices at smaller independent suppliers, with nine of the 10 cheapest deals on the market being offered by suppliers outside of the traditional Big Six.

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