12 May 2009
Tariffs need some level of standardisation in order for customers to make comparisons, it has been suggested.
Audrey Gallacher, Head of Company Performance at Consumer Focus, believes comparisons need to be "easy and meaningful", while offering customers a certain degree of transparency.
"Some consumers have found that they have signed up to what appears to be a great deal, only to find the price increases a short time later," the expert suggests.
Switching provider is simple, Mr Gallacher reveals, which may encourage people to use the services of a price comparison site such as uSwitch.com.
Companies therefore need to be responsible when it comes to marketing their energy products, she adds.
According to Which?, seven in ten people find the number of gas and electricity tariffs available confusing as there are over 4,000 to choose from.
Baffling bills and an array of complex tariffs make it very difficult for consumers to understand what gas and electricity schemes they are using and reduce their energy consumption and costs, it also claims.