WIREDGOV

As SSE becomes the fifth energy company to cut its prices, Citizens Advice says EDF must now do the same.

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

“SSE's price cut has been a long time coming. Wholesale prices have been consistently low for over a year but it’s only now that customers are starting to see some sort of benefit. Yet the cuts to bills are minimal compared to the size of the reduction in wholesale prices.

“Pressure is clearly mounting on EDF to follow other suppliers and cuts its prices.  The domino effect we see each time one of the large energy companies reduces prices yet again reinforces the need for the Competition and Markets Authority investigation to leave no stone unturned. With marginal differences between price cuts, customers need to know whether the market is working for them and if they are getting value for money.

“Citizens Advice is also keen that the needs of prepayment customers are taken into account given the outdated service and often higher prices they pay.”

Just last week Citizens Advice revealed there is as much as £200 difference between some of the big six's standard tariff and cheapest deal.  

Citizens Advice

Notes to editors:

1. To contact the Citizens Advice news team call the press office on 03000 231 080, or via email at press.office@citizensadvice.org.uk.
2. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
3. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
4. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk. You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk
5. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers
6. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
7. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.