Citizens Advice responds to Ofgem announcing energy cap for 1 million vulnerable households

Citizens Advice has welcomed plans from the energy regulator Ofgem to extend the prepayment meter safeguard tariff to 1 million households receiving the Warm Home Discount, saving them £120 a year on average.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said:

“The proposals announced by Ofgem today should serve as a warning to energy firms that they can no longer get away with ripping off their poorest customers.

“We have long been calling for a safeguard tariff to cap bills for the poorest pensioners and families as a first step, alongside action to protect the millions of other loyal customers paying over the odds on default tariffs. “It is right that whilst the government works to tackle the cost of default tariffs through legislation, Ofgem is taking action to make energy bills more affordable for the poorest loyal customers - and looking to extend the safeguard tariff to more of the worst off as soon as possible. Energy firms must continue to take responsibility for getting more of their customers onto better value deals over the next few months.”

Citizens Advice’s analysis has found that over the last year dual fuel bills for people on the standard variable tariff rose by £89 - three times the rate of inflation.

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.