Member of Parliament for North Ayrshire and Arran Katy Clark has today attacked the major energy companies for continually failing to significantly cut household gas and electricity prices. Four of the big six gas and electricity companies, E.ON, Scottish and Southern, EDF and British Gas, have announced cuts to prices recently however only Scottish and Southern is cutting both its gas and electricity prices and the cuts which are taking place range between 4-10% which is significantly lower than the 42% increase in household energy prices which occurred in 2008.
Speaking on the subject Ms. Clark said ‘I am extremely disappointed to see the major energy suppliers fail to fully reverse the huge price rises which were imposed on customers last year. Whilst four of the six major energy companies have cut their prices average prices for duel fuel customers of these companies remain 29% to 37% (£264 to £340) higher than they were on January 1st 2008. I am also concerned that customers of EDF, E-ON and Scottish and Southern will not see their bills fall until the end of March.”
“Whilst, according to Energy Watch, there are currently 4.4 million people in the United Kingdom living in fuel poverty I am appalled that the energy companies are not acting responsibly to significantly bring prices down for households who are struggling in the current economic climate. I believe it is essential that the Government acts urgently to address this problem with the nationalisation of the energy industry an option to be seriously considered.”
The local MP has written to the Prime Minister this month asking that he personally intervene.