Call for energy bills refund

BRITAIN’s biggest energy suppliers should refund millions of customers who were “pickpocketed” by unfair tariffs, it was claimed yesterday.

The Big Six firms were accused of ripping off loyal consumers with so-called “tease and squeeze” deals.

These offered cheap rates to entice new customers in, then hit them with big increases when contracts ran out.

Keith Bastian, boss of Britain’s fastest-growing utility firm Fischer Energy, called for a Government inquiry, adding: “Loyal customers have been pickpocketed by the Big Six’s despicable approach.”

Comparing it to the PPI mis-selling scandal in the banking industry, Mr Bastian said: “We’re talking about a giant sleight of hand which has made the hard-up public fork out unnecessarily. In any other industry there would be absolute accountability.”

He said customers should be repaid at least £100 for each year they had been put on the tariffs.

The Big Six – British Gas, SSE, Eon, Npower, EDF and Scottish Power – made £7.3billion from such deals over five years, said regulator Ofgem.

Consumer group The Big Deal said: “We support an inquiry to find out how bad this exploitation has been.”