11 August 2008
Foreign gas and electricity suppliers are picking the pockets of British households in order to subsidise consumers in their own countries, it has been claimed. The Chief Executive of the new consumer watchdog Consumer Focus accused European energy firms of ripping off gas and electricity customers in Britain. Ed Mayo explained that in France energy price rises have been capped by the government at 2% for electricity and 5% for gas. Energy suppliers on the continent are therefore imposing large price rises on British consumers in order to protect their profits, he claimed. His comments come after EDF Energy, which is partly owned by the French government, put up its UK electricity prices by 17% and its gas prices by 22%. "Closed and protectionist European energy markets end up picking the pockets of consumers in this country," Mr Mayo remarked. Meanwhile, DebtAdvisersDirect.co.uk has warned that recent gas and electricity price rises alone could be enough to push some families - who are also facing rising food and fuel costs - into debt.
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
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