Energy industry regulator Ofgem has told energy firms to simplify their prices to avoid confusing their customers. The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), the regulator for the energy industry, has told suppliers that their tariff structures are unnecessarily complex, which leave their customers “bamboozled”. The investigation came after suspicions that the big six UK energy suppliers (British Gas, … Read More
Japan quake increases energy price worries
What does the catastrophic record-magnitude earthquake in Japan mean to the worldwide energy industry? With the disastrous events in Japan following the record magnitude earthquake, the country has experienced some problems with one of its nuclear power stations in Fukushima. Nuclear reactors are meant to be built to withstand seismic activity, but the plant is still experiencing some significant difficulties, … Read More
Energy Secretary on UK oil dependency
Oil price rises due to middle east conflict, UK energy secretary says UK needs to become more energy independent. UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has called for the UK to speed up a move away from foreign oil vulnerable to factors such as civil unrest. The recent turmoil throughout the Middle East has sent the price of oil up dramatically, … Read More
British Gas profits up 24 percent
Parent company Centrica has announced British Gas profits have risen by 24% to a record £742m Centrica’s operating profit rose 29% to £2.3bn, whilst Britain’s largest energy supplier made £742m last year. In 2010, British Gas added 267,000 customers to a grand total of 16m accounts.
E.ON raises domestic prices
German owned supplier E.ON UK has raised its domestic energy tariffs. The new price tariffs are expected to affect around 4 million people, and will come into effect from 4 February. RWE E.ON announced that its domestic customers will see a 9% increase in electricity prices, and a 3% rise in gas prices.
Big six facing Ofgem review
Energy industry regulator Ofgem is to launch an enquiry sparked by suppliers’ rising profit margins The big six UK energy suppliers could be faced with the prospect of multi-million pound fines if they are found guilty of misconduct by the office of gas and electricity markets (Ofgem). The enquiry takes into account recent energy price rises by the big six … Read More
Further winter price changes from big six
British Gas and ScottishPower up prices, while EDF commit to freezing at current rates this winter. In October, when SSE announced a 9.4% price rise, it was expected that other suppliers would follow suit. British Gas has announced a rise of 7% for domestic electricity and gas tariffs, while ScottishPower have just increased an average increase of 8.9% for electricity … Read More
Gas prices to rise this winter
Scottish and Southern Energy has announced a 9.4% increase in household gas prices. The second largest supplier in the UK, SSE has cited a 25% increase in wholesale gas prices as the reason for the increase. SSE’s announcement comes just a month before the increase in VAT to 20%, with its new higher prices to come in to effect on … Read More
Rising energy bills fund green Britain
Ofgem say energy bills may rise by 100% over the next decade in order for Britain to reach its green targets. The cost of upgrading the UK’s energy infrastructure is expected to be covered by customers’ rising energy bills. Ofgem have said that a sum of £32 billion is required over the next 10 years in order to support the … Read More
Profits rise 98% at British Gas
British Gas profits show a 98% rise in first half of 2010 Centrica have announced that British Gas made operating profits of £585 million for the first half of the year. Centrica, parent company of British Gas also released their profit increase of 65% to £1.56 billion Being Britain’s largest domestic energy supplier, supplying power to half of UK households … Read More