Citizens Advice responds to Ofgem announcement on the frequency of the price cap

Responding to Ofgem's proposal to review the price cap every three months instead of every six months, Gillian Cooper, Head of Energy Policy at Citizens Advice, said:

“We know many energy customers will be worried about seeing prices change more frequently, rather than being locked in for six months.

“These measures should reduce the risk of further supplier failures which have already left customers with a multi-billion pound bill. But they underline the need for a clear plan on how to protect families from further price hikes and support those struggling now.

“The government should urgently bring in more targeted support for people on the lowest incomes. Ofgem must ensure customers don’t pick up the tab for chaos in the energy market.”

Background:

  • In its report ‘ Market Meltdown ’ Citizens Advice calculated that energy customers had been left with a £2.6billion pound bill due to energy supplier failures. 

Notes to editors

  1. Citizens Advice includes the national charity; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.

  2. Citizens Advice is the statutory consumer advocate for energy and post. We provide supplier performance information to consumers and policy analysis to decision makers.

  3. The Citizens Advice Witness Service provides free, independent support for prosecution and defence witnesses in every criminal court in England and Wales.

  4. Citizens Advice offers Pension Wise services at 500 locations in England and Wales.

  5. Citizens Advice’s services are free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to all regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.

  6. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice, visit citizensadvice.org.uk

  7. For consumer advice, call the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or 0808 223 1144 to talk in Welsh.

  8. We helped 2.6 million people face to face, by phone, email and webchat in 2017-18. For service statistics see our monthly publication Advice trends.

  9. Citizens Advice staff are supported by over 23,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 locations in England and Wales.