Pauline Latham OBE MP quizzes Minister on energy prices in the Chamber of the House of Commons
20th October 2011
Pauline Latham OBE MP, the Member of Parliament for Mid-Derbyshire has today stood up in the Chamber of the House of Commons in order to ask the Department for Energy and Climate Change what steps the Government will be taking in order to simplify energy tariffs.
The Member of Parliament also focused the question on how the Government can ensure that more vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, are able to benefit from savings, even if they do not have access to a computer.
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Charles Hendry): One of the main aims of the Ofgem retail market review is to reduce tariff complexity, making bills easier to compare. I welcome these proposals and look forward to Ofgem’s forthcoming consultation on its plans to simplify tariffs and boost competition.
Pauline Latham: In the light of the news that fewer customers are now switching supplier, despite the proven benefits of doing so, I welcome the Government’s new “check, switch, insulate to save” scheme, but how will the Minister ensure that consumers, particularly the elderly who do not necessarily have access to computers or computer skills, take up the savings available?
Charles Hendry: My hon. Friend raises an important issue. After yesterday’s debate, I think the whole House will be entirely aware of my own inability to switch because of the complexity of the regime online. We have required the energy companies to write to 4 million vulnerable customers this winter so that they understand that they could be on a lower tariff and what more might be available to them in terms of energy efficiency and they get what help is currently available.
Pauline Latham OBE MP said:
“I was very pleased to ask this important question in the House of Commons today. People all across the country are concerned about energy bills, and it is vital that we ensure that the best savings are available to all, but particularly the vulnerable, who may not have access to a computer and the option of finding cheaper suppliers.