Energy firms need to be made accountable

WITH the looming winter of uncertainty in the cost of living due to rising energy costs and judging from the concerns raised by unhappy energy utility customers in the press and social media about monthly direct debits, it seems there is more to it than meets the eye.

By now, one would hope Ministers, MPs and Ofgem would have paid greater attention and got to the bottom of it, not prolong the anxieties ordinary people face at the mercy of energy suppliers due to a

lack of the know-how and the money to take them to court.

Especially those companies who use unsubstantiated estimated claims under the pretext of “health checks” that customers are using more and not paying enough, contrary to the evidence compiled by the energy user.

I wonder if the same energy companies would pay in advance if their workers submitted the estimated hours they intended to work in the coming months.

The government also needs to look closely into the workings of Ofgem, Ofwat, the Energy Ombudsman and others responsible for regulating public utilities, and see whether they are fit for purpose or in the pockets of the big multinationals enjoying unique monopolies allowing them to make huge profits at the expense of Joe Public.

It is time for a radical change rather than just acting as signposts sending the public on a merry-goround. The question is, if most people have smart meters, what is the point if the energy companies cannot simply bill consumers for the energy used in the previous month? Remember, even if interest rates on savings are low, energy providers are sitting on hundreds of millions of pounds, earning a few extra million in interest on credit balances built up across all customers at their expense by not voluntarily refunding the money.

I hope the politicians and Ofgem do something soon so the energy companies behave responsibly and are made more accountable before it is too late for many.

Dr Hassan Akberali

By email