Energy firm Iresa investigated over customer treatment

THE energy watchdog has launched an investigation into whether a Nottingham-based supplier broke rules on customer information and contact.

Ofgem said it would assess whether Iresa treated customers fairly when handling their calls and the complaints process, and whether it gave indebted customers enough notice that it would be taking debt repayments out of their bank accounts.

The regulator is also looking into whether Iresa – which is classed as a small energy provider – followed the rules around allowing customers to switch energy suppliers when they asked to, and whether it refunded customers quickly enough.

The investigation comes amid a crackdown in the sector, after Ofgem fined energy minnow E £260,000 for misleading customers. Larger suppliers have been fined much more than that – including a £10m penalty for SSE and £26m for Npower. Ofgem has also launched an investigation into Ovo, amid complaints it billed customers based on incorrect usage data.