http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views News & Views - Energy Advice Line Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:26:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en BUSINESS energy users who want to consider turning to smaller independent energy suppliers instead of the ‘big six’ utility companies have been urged to contact the Energy Advice Line. The call follows admissions by British Gas, the UK’s largest energy supplier, that 200,000 customers have turned their back on the company ... http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views/british-gas-reveal-that-1800-people-each-day-leave Smart meters, which will be rolled out to all domestic and smaller business energy consumers by the end of the decade, will be open to abuse by energy companies and could even lead to higher bills, according to a powerful committee of MPs. The new and sophisticated ... http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views/smart-meters-could-increase-bills-say-mps Furious domestic and business energy customers are resorting to making increasingly aggressive complaints over rising energy bills, according to British Gas. The UK’s biggest energy supplier has revealed that customers struggling to pay their bills, including business electricity and commercial gas customers, were taking their anger out on call centre staff. The ... http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views/angry-customers-abuse-business-energy-suppliers Business electricity and gas customers are being urged to submit their views to Ofgem about the behaviour of commercial energy suppliers and suggest ways to improve the non-domestic energy supply market. The energy regulator is considering what further action it needs to take to make the UK’s energy supply market more ... http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views/businesses-urged-to-tell-ofgem-what-they-think THE UK’s leading business energy price comparison and switching service for business has urged firms to be cautious amid reports of business electricity prices and business gas tariffs  falling in 2012. Julian Morgan, managing director of the Energy Advice Line, said despite reports that energy prices could be slashed as part ... http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views/business-electricity-and-business-gas-tariffs-start-to-fall Energy regulator Ofgem has warned of a crackdown on the major energy suppliers amid accusations of ‘predatory pricing’ tactics. In a move which could impact on business electricity prices and gas tariffs, Ofgem has confirmed it is investigating complaints from small energy companies that significant energy discount deals being offered by ... http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views/regulator-threatens-crackdown-on-commercial-energy-suppliers THE introduction of smart meters could pave the way for businesses energy users to switch suppliers within 24 hours, according to Ofgem. In a report examining the potential impact of the roll-out of smart meters across the UK, the energy regulator said that smart meters could make it possible for domestic ... http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views/smart-meters-mean-faster-switching-says-ofgem COMPLAINTS about the ‘big six’ energy companies soared by 26% in the three months to September, according to figures published by energy watchdog Consumer Focus. Every power company except Scottish Power recorded a rise in the number of complaints made against them, with EDF Energy posting a massive 91% year-on-year increase ... http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views/complaints-about-energy-firms-soar 2011 has been a difficult year for many small and medium-sized firms and 2012 is set to be the same. So how can businesses be more money-savvy in the year to come? Julian Morgan, managing director of the Energy Advice Line, the UK’s leading price comparison and switching service for business, ... http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views/money-saving-strategy-for-business-energy-users-in-2012 Ofgem has warned energy suppliers that their planned changes to improve backbilling arrangements for business energy users are not good enough, and that more needs to be done. In an open letter to suppliers, the regulator has welcomed the development of ‘draft Standards’ to protect the smallest firms from the impact ... http://www.energyadviceline.org.uk/news-and-views/ofgem-responds-to-back-billing-changes