Greg Clark, shadow energy and climate change secretary

Tories take on energy companies

Tories take on energy companies

The Conservatives have published radical proposals on energy poverty, calling for tough new rules on energy companies which charge unfair price premiums on prepay meters.

Other proposals include requiring every energy company to offer social tariffs to vulnerable households and provide clear information to customers showing whether they are on the cheapest tariff offered by their energy company.

Greg Clark, shadow energy and climate change secretary, said: “Without immediate help, many will have to choose between staying warm and going into debt.

“It is completely unacceptable that the most vulnerable on pre-payment meters should be targeted by the energy companies to pay more than their fair share – the practice should be banned at once.”

One in five families are thought to currently be living in fuel poverty.