“There are still 20 million people who are stuck on some of the most expensive standard tariffs” – Which? response to Energy UK switching figures

“It’s good to see switching levels increasing but there are still 20 million people who are stuck on some of the most expensive standard tariffs, paying over the odds for their energy. We want to see a much more competitive market and action taken by the suppliers to move their customers off poor value deals.”

Notes to Editors:

• In November 2016, Which? called on all energy companies to find new ways of getting customers stuck on poor value deals to move. Our ‘Fair Energy Prices’ campaign is challenging the energy companies to publish plans by 31st January 2017 detailing how they will engage standard tariff customers and take immediate action this winter to deliver against this plan. Responses from all suppliers will be published on the Fair Energy Prices website once submitted to Which?.
• 20m million UK households were on a SVT based on data received from suppliers for March 2016 according to Ofgem: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/understand-your-gas-and-electricity-bills/energy-plans-what-standard-variable-rate-tariff-and-how-does-it-compare
• A standard variable tariff is a supplier’s ‘default’ tariff. It has variable prices that can go up and down with the market, but is usually an energy supplier’s most expensive tariff.
• Consumers looking for cheaper energy deals can compare deals with Which? Switch, a transparent and impartial way to compare energy tariffs and find the best gas and electricity supplier: www.which.co.uk/switch

Statement: electric, Energy, energy uk, gas, standard tariff, suppliers, svt, switching, Which? Switch