Energy News

Increase in complaints about EDF Energy

Thursday 1st September, 2011

By Martin Fagan - editorial@consumerchoices.co.uk

Energy watchdog reports mixed picture on number of complaints about “big six” providers

The quarterly energy complaints league table shows a decrease in complaints for five of the “Big Six” suppliers, according to data published today by Consumer Focus.

EDF Energy is the only firm which has seen an increase in complaints in the second quarter of 2011.

The watchdog compiles the table using complaints concerning the “big six” energy companies registered with a number of organisations such as Consumer Direct, the Energy Ombudsman and Consumer Focus itself.

The second quarter of 2011 (April-June) saw a general fall in complaints, with particularly low volumes in April, which Consumer Focus says is partly due to Easter coupled with the royal wedding extended bank holiday weekend.

According to Consumer Focus, Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) remains the supplier with the fewest complaints and the only supplier to achieve a five-star rating and so tops the league table.

British Gas, E.ON, Scottish Power and EDF Energy all saw falls in complaints, with all but British Gas going up by one-star in the ratings as a result. British Gas retains its four-star rating.

Consumer Focus says Npower has continued to improve, rising to a three-star rating and fourth position in the league table. It has been replaced in last position by EDF Energy which achieved only one-star.

The big rise in complaints about EDF Energy (a 19% increase) leaves the firm with the worst complaints rating since Npower’s one-star rating last winter, says the watchdog.

Consumer Focus says a big factor in EDF’s poor performance is probably due to the implementation of a new billing system.