relative costs of energy between various suppliers

The very fact, however, that it has taken three full years since the first investigation for the big six to bring about real suggests that their commitment to change is reluctant at best .This strident attack on the industry has come following a long inquiry into pricing policy in the energy market, conducted in 2008. This is intended to make it easy for consumers to be able to compare the relative costs of energy between various suppliers. If OFGEM's plans work the consumer will be the beneficiary of the proposed changes. There are now hundreds of various rates for electricity and gas, which has confused customers into understanding what they will be paying until they start receiving their bills - when it's too late.

The 'big six' have now been informed that big changes will be forced on them in the next eight weeks. These changes may also have an unintended effect on the online price comparison industry, sites like.The OFGEM made statements accusing the power suppliers in the UK of confusing consumers. The most important change for consumers will be the requirement for each energy form to have a single, flat rate for both gas and electricity.moneysupermarket. The 'big six' providers are E.OFGEM, the UK energy regulator is launching another front in its long war with the energy companies by demanding clearer cut pricing of their tariffs.moneysupermarket. The energy companies are regularly competing with the bankers for the public enemy one in Britain; with good reason as British homeowners pay the plastic storage box most for heating and electricity in.

At present, a dizzying array of tariffs makes it almost impossible to compare prices between suppliers. They have two months to comply unless they wish to be prosecuted by OFGEM and face damaging media coverage. have profited enormously from the many different tariffs and prices. It is believed that this new system will put the consumer back in control, and may force prices down as it will become very clear who are charging the higher rates. These companies provide the vast majority of the UK with gas and electricity and the Government hoped that competition between the six would drive down prices.

The reality has been somewhat different, the market has clearly failed to decrease power bills and consumers have been hit with huge price rises, which, according to OFGEM, fail to reflect the wholesale price of energy. The 1990s saw a huge deregulation of the energy business, in line with prevalent market thinking at the time. Both Conservative and Labour Parties were convinced that the introduction of competition would result in an increase in consumer power and a radical reduction in the cost of bills. OFGEM has criticised the industry's response to the results of the pricing investigation as "disappointingly poor". Having given the industry plenty of opportunities to improve it practices, OFGEM has now decided to act decisively.ON, British Gas, EDF Energy, Npower, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy.