Citizens Advice responds to SGN returning £145m to energy customers

Citizens Advice has today responded to news that gas distribution network company SGN will and make a voluntary contribution of £145 million to consumers, acting on the national charity’s call for energy networks to return excess profits to the people that paid for them.

Earlier this year Citizens Advice highlighted how energy network companies are making £7.5 billion worth of unjustified profit from customers, and called for this money to be returned to people via lower energy bills.

Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Gillian Guy said:

“Network costs are a significant part of high energy bills. With many consumers already paying over the odds for their gas and electricity, it is right that networks pay back the excess profits they’ve made.

“We have been calling for this on the back of energy network companies receiving as much as £7.5bn in unjustified profits.

“SGN’s voluntary contribution is welcome. Other energy network companies must now look to do the same for consumers, while Ofgem should make sure this money is returned to consumers as soon as possible.”

Notes to editors

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local Citizens Advice, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website .

  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.

  3. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk

  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers.

  5. Local Citizens Advice in England and Wales advised 2.5 million clients on 6.2 million problems in 2014/15. For full service statistics see our publication  Advice trends .

  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.