Watchdog criticises conduct of energy suppliers in Wales - 29/01/2009

New watchdog Consumer Focus Wales has criticised the conduct of energy suppliers in Wales in dealing with vulnerable households, reports the BBC.

According to the watchdog, the past three months have seen the arrival of nearly 70 cases of households having to get help with bill payments as the result of high prices from energy suppliers.

Vulnerable households have had their gas supply stopped while one new case involved an individual being set an unreasonable debt recovery rate.

The organisation called for set prices on social tariffs for vulnerable homes as part of a move to help provide better access to cheap energy.

Viv Sugar, chair of Consumer Focus Wales, launched the report entitled Double Trouble: Debt and Disconnection in Wales, and according to the BBC told the Welsh Assembly: "We in Wales are more reluctant to switch to a new supplier, with many people remaining loyal to their original supplier prior to de-regulation."

Industry experts frequently advise homeowners to consider switching energy supplier in a bid to seek cheap energy prices.

Several energy suppliers have said they plan to lower prices in the spring to reflect reduced wholesale costs.

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