Energy News

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Energy news

Government slashes feed-in tariff (again)

Government slashes feed-in tariff (again) (25-5-12)

DECC has announced a swinging cut in feed-in tariffs for Brits who install solar panels after August

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Majority of Brits have switched energy supplier in the last five years

Majority of Brits have switched energy supplier in the last five years (23-5-12)

Half of those who switch do so for lower bills and better service, says YouGov.

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New Energy Bill’s green measures will hammer consumers

New Energy Bill’s green measures will hammer consumers (23-5-12)

Industry split on how Bill will affect energy markets, but all agree household bills will increase.

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Cost of energy grows five times faster than incomes

Cost of energy grows five times faster than incomes (18-5-12)

Average household income up 20% since 2004 but energy bills up 140%

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Fall in fuel poverty figures “an understatement”, says watchdog

Fall in fuel poverty figures “an understatement”, says watchdog (18-5-12)

Latest fuel poverty figures are for 2010 and don’t factor in recent price hikes

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Eon promises not to hike energy bills in 2012

E.ON promises not to hike energy bills in 2012 (16-5-12)

Price pledge from E.ON as British Gas hints of price rises.

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Electricity tops the list of Britain's most baffling bills

Electricity tops the list of Britain's most baffling bills (10-5-12)

A fifth of people ignore bills that look too confusing, says new research.

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37m Brits need to get energy smarter, says E.ON

37m Brits need to get energy smarter, says E.ON (10-5-12)

Over three-quarters of Brits ignoring energy savings offered by smart meters.

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New Energy Bill generates no comfort for consumers, warn experts

New Energy Bill generates no comfort for consumers, warn experts (9-5-12)

Energy Bill in Queen’s Speech gives no benefit to consumers or environment, say experts.

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Consumers urged to

Consumers urged to "snap up" cheap energy deals (9-5-12)

As energy suppliers start to hike prices, cheap deals are disappearing from the market.

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Tenants miss a £990m saving on energy bills

Tenants miss a £990m saving on energy bills (3-5-12)

Renting energy inefficient properties mean tenants lose out by £990m a year.

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Homeowners hit hard by household bill hikes

Homeowners hit hard by household bill hikes (3-5-12)

Gas bills have increased almost five times the rate of inflation over past decade, says Santander.

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More energy regulation means fairer prices for consumers

More energy regulation means fairer prices for consumers (2-5-12)

The “big six” are running “an oligopoly” that can only be broken by more regulation, says think tank.

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SSE to offer all customers Annual Energy Review

SSE to offer all customers Annual Energy Review (26-4-12)

Energy supplier announces raft of measures to “inspire consumer trust.”

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Fear of small energy suppliers costs Brits £337m a year

Fear of small energy suppliers costs Brits £337m a year (25-4-12)

Anxiety of the unknown prevents many consumers from moving to smaller energy suppliers, says research.

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Half of Brits make cutbacks to pay energy bills

Half of Brits make cutbacks to pay energy bills (20-4-12)

Despite mild winter, many pushed into debt by high energy bills, says watchdog.

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Solar panels could cause trouble for homeowners

Solar panels could cause trouble for homeowners (19-4-12)

“Rent-a-Roof” schemes could breach mortgage terms and leave home unsalable, says CML.

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Brits discontent with energy companies’ profits

Brits discontent with energy companies’ profits (12-4-12)

Energy suppliers maximise profits at the expense of customers, says new survey

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One in four Brits wrongly billed by energy supplier

One in four Brits wrongly billed by energy supplier (12-4-12)

Energy companies second only to the Taxman for getting bills wrong.

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Energy companies forced to offer customers best deal

Energy companies forced to offer customers best deal (11-4-12)

New range of measures designed to encourage customers to switch supplier.

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Brits £478m in debt to energy suppliers

Brits £478m in debt to energy suppliers (5-4-12)

Almost 14% of all UK households are currently in debt to their energy supplier.

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Brits still dissatisfied with energy companies, says Ofgem

Brits still dissatisfied with energy companies, says Ofgem (04-4-12)

New survey by energy regulator shows slight improvement but more needs to be done.

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Brits 'go green' to save money

Brits 'go green' to save money (3-4-12)

Soaring energy bills mean Brits are more mindful of energy efficiency as a cost saving measure.

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Brits using less energy but paying more for it

Brits using less energy but paying more for it (29-3-12)

Household energy spending up 23.5% in five years, says ONS.

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EDF Energy says vulnerable customers to get “cheapest tariff”

EDF Energy says vulnerable customers to get “cheapest tariff” (28-3-12)

Energy giant pledges to refund vulnerable customers who are not on cheapest tariff.

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Scheduled rise in fuel duty will go ahead

Scheduled rise in fuel duty will go ahead (22-3-12)

In his budget, the Chancellor confirmed the planned rise in fuel duty rise in August will go ahead.

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Parents scolded by kids over energy wastage

Parents scolded by kids over energy wastage (21-3-12)

Two thirds of young people are pressuring adults and their peers to save energy.

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Fuel poverty will keep on rising, says report

Fuel poverty will keep on rising, says report (16-3-12)

The Hills Review on fuel poverty says government measures won’t eradicate it.

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Ovo Energy announces 7.7% price hike

Ovo Energy announces 7.7% price hike (15-3-12)

But fears that the “big six” will also increase prices are “unfounded.”

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Fuel debts hit record high in 2011

Fuel debts hit record high in 2011 (15-3-12)

Calls to money charity about fuel debt soar by 2,130% in seven years.

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British Gas launches tariff comparison service

British Gas launches tariff comparison service (14-03-12)

Annual statement will show customers if they are on the cheapest tariff and how to switch.

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Overall energy complaints fall, but E.ON’s complaints up 7%

Overall energy complaints fall, but E.ON’s complaints up 7% (8-3-12)

EDF Energy remains the worst performing supplier, says watchdog.

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Wind power more expensive than burning fossil fuels, says report

Wind power more expensive than burning fossil fuels, says report (8-3-12)

Plans to build massive wind farms across UK will add £120 billion to bills by 2020.

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npower’s UK profits up 34%

npower’s UK profits up 34% (7-3-12)

German utilities giant’s profits anger Brits who want government to axe VAT on energy bills.

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Cheap tariffs for the savvy mean higher bills for the many

Cheap tariffs for the savvy mean higher bills for the many (29-2-12)

Customers who don’t switch are subsidising the deals for those who do, says think tank report.

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Energy companies report drop in consumer profits

Energy companies report drop in consumer profits (23-2-12)

British Gas and Scottish Power blame profit drop on lack of UK demand.

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Energy companies appease regulator before law forces them

Energy companies appease regulator before law forces them (22-2-12)

SSE slashes tariff numbers and British Gas offers £50 for “tip-off” of vulnerable households needing insulation.

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EDF announces increased UK profits for 2011

EDF announces increased UK profits for 2011 (16-2-12)

Profits from its UK business rise despite lower demand caused by mild winter.

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Scotland reintroduces boiler scrappage scheme

Scotland reintroduces boiler scrappage scheme (16-2-12)

Scottish government is offing a further 1,200 vouchers worth £400 towards replacing inefficient boilers.

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Beware supermarkets promoting expensive energy deals

Beware supermarkets promoting expensive energy deals (15-2-12)

Brits who sign up to energy deals in supermarkets could be poorer by over £300 a year, says Which?

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Gas prices hit six-year high

Gas prices hit six-year high (9-2-12)

Big Freeze and Russia cutting gas exports causes spike in demand which has pushed up prices.

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Brits lose £4.1bn a year by not switching energy supplier

Brits lose £4.1bn a year by not switching energy supplier (8-2-12)

Watchdog offers Brits a chance to band together to buy energy at cheapest prices.

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Brits want clearer and simpler info from energy suppliers

Brits want clearer and simpler info from energy suppliers (8-2-12)

Ofgem says suppliers should demystify consumer information as E.ON improves its direct debit policy.

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85% of Brits concerned about their winter energy bill

85% of Brits concerned about their winter energy bill (3-2-12)

Despite recent cuts in the price of energy, millions of Brits endure cold homes in order to keep bills down.

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Smart meters will not be ’obligatory‘ says minister

Smart meters will not be ’obligatory‘ says minister (2-2-12)

Government confirms that it cannot force people to have a smart energy meter, raising concerns about national roll-out.

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Water bills rise sharply as Brits' water debts up 32%

Water bills rise sharply as Brits' water debts up 32% (1-2-12)

Inflation-busting rise in water bills as households fall.

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Government loses legal bid to cut solar panel tariff

Government loses legal bid to cut solar panel tariff (25-1-12)

Homeowners have been given a short-term window of opportunity to enjoy a solar power “gold rush”.

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70% of Brits hacked off with energy supplier

70% of Brits hacked off with energy supplier (25-1-12)

Despite being unhappy with energy prices, less than a third of Brits switch supplier for a cheaper deal, research finds.

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Families cut back on fuel to pay for home

Families cut back on fuel to pay for home (19-1-12)

Millions of Brits are cutting back on fuel and food to help pay their rent or mortgage, says housing charity.

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Millions of Brits missing out on energy savings

Millions of Brits missing out on energy savings (18-1-12)

Badly insulated homes mean recent price cuts will still leave a £1.9bn hole in consumer pockets while 43% can’t afford next energy bill.

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Smart meters could be a dumb idea, say MPs

Smart meters could be a dumb idea, say MPs (18-1-12)

Parliamentary Committee says the benefits of smart meters won’t be passed on to consumers and poorer families will be worse off.

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Could you save money on your fuel bills in Big Energy Week?

Could you save money on your fuel bills in Big Energy Week? (17-1-12)

Reduce what you spend on heating and powering your home by getting help from advisers across the country as part of Big Energy Week.

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E.ON and Scottish Power announce energy price cuts

E.ON and Scottish Power announce energy price cuts (17-1-12)

Last of the “big six” suppliers drop their standard energy prices.

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SSE cuts gas prices by 4.5%

SSE cuts gas prices by 4.5% (12-1-12)

SSE follows EDF and British Gas by cutting energy prices in the fastest succession of price changes on record.

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British Gas cuts electricity prices by 5%

British Gas cuts electricity prices by 5% (12-1-12)

Parent company Centrica announces electricity price cut but said it was unable to lower gas prices.

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British Gas and Npower fined £4.5m for complaints

British Gas and Npower fined £4.5m for complaints (12-1-12)

Ofgem insists the two energy giants pay the fines it imposed in 2011 for mishandling customer complaints.

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EDF Energy cuts gas prices by 5%

EDF Energy cuts gas prices by 5% (11-1-12)

Following the fall in wholesale gas prices, EDF is the first major energy supplier to cut costs for consumers.

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Energy companies receive 4m complaints a year

Energy companies receive 4m complaints a year (11-1-12)

Billing mistakes causes most anger while £4m of compensation goes unclaimed every year, says Which?

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Ovo Energy cuts prices by 5%

Ovo Energy cuts prices by 5% (6-1-12)

After cancelling a price increase last November, Ovo has announced it will further reduce prices with immediate effect.

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Brits should brace themselves for a huge energy bill

Brits should brace themselves for a huge energy bill (5-1-12)

Households that used less energy because of the mild winter will see those savings wiped out by rising energy prices, says new research.

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Rogue boiler installers endanger lives

Rogue boiler installers endanger lives (4-1-12)

Thousands of people in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty boilers installed or maintained by “cowboys”, says GSR.

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SSE says it will compensate mis-sold customers

SSE says it will compensate mis-sold customers (19-12-11)

SSE has put aside £5m to compensate consumers who were misled by doorstep salespeople into switching supplier.

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Green measures will add 10% to energy bills

Green measures will add 10% to energy bills (15-12-11)

Recent rises down to increasing wholesale gas prices but green measures will hike bills, admits government.

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Renters pay higher fuel bills than homeowners

Renters pay higher fuel bills than homeowners (14-12-11)

Negligent landlords who rent out energy inefficient properties trap tenants in higher fuel bills, says Citizens Advice.

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Winter turns boilers into “silent killers'

Winter turns boilers into “silent killers” (07-11-11)

Cases of carbon monoxide poisoning up 90% but half of homes have no detector fitted, says AA.

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Key checklist for energy customers published

Key checklist for energy customers published (07-12-11)

A free guide and checklist to ensure consumers know their rights about their energy supply is available to download.

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Fuel poverty hits Welsh hardest

Fuel poverty hits Welsh hardest (02-11-11)

Wales suffers the highest level of fuel poverty and also highest UK energy prices, says new research.

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Consumers back reforms to simplify energy market

Consumers back reforms to simplify energy market (01-12-11)

Ofgem says all consumers would benefit from fewer tariffs and single unit pricing.

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5m Brits in the dark about energy efficiency savings

5m Brits in the dark about energy efficiency savings (30-11-11)

48% put off by cost of energy efficient measures while others think they’re a “scam”, says new research.

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British Gas promises to simplify energy tariffs

British Gas promises to simplify energy tariffs (24-11-11)

Director says “mistrust” of energy suppliers means consumers would appreciate and benefit from more transparent bills.

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Huhne’s “green energy deal” announcement fails to impress

Huhne’s “green energy deal” announcement fails to impress (24-11-11)

Households will be hit with green taxes which government says will be offset by making homes more energy efficient.

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Brits save £110 each year by charging gadgets at work

Brits save £110 each year by charging gadgets at work (23-11-11)

Cash-strapped Brits are saving energy - and money - by charging up their phones and gadgets at work, costing employers £1.5bn.

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Know your rights if you fall behind with your energy bills

Know your rights if you fall behind with your energy bills (16-11-11)

New drive to help people understand what to do - and what their rights are - if they fall behind on their energy bills.

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Final energy price hike strikes (09-11-11)

As the last price hike kicks in, some Brits fear fuel poverty while others debate whether to turn heating on or wear more clothes

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Dash for solar panels as tariff slashed by over 50% (03-11-11)

Households installing solar panels after 12 December will be paid 50% less for the power they generate

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Complaints to “big six” energy suppliers soar (02-11-11)

Ofgem fines npower £2m and criticises energy companies for not doing enough to restore consumer confidence in energy industry

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