More than two million of poorest Brits pay £141 a year over the odds for power thanks to Big Six energy firms
800,000 of the poorest pensioners and 1.5 million families earning less than £15,500 a year are among those languishing
TWO MILLION of the poorest Brits are being gouged by the Big Six and paying £141 over the odds for power, the Sun can reveal.
New research shows that 800,000 of the poorest pensioners and 1.5 million families earning less than £15,500 a year are among those languishing on default, Standard Variable Tariffs.
The SVTs are on average £141 more expensive than the cheapest dual fuel deals on the market, new research from Citizens Advice reveals.
The charity said it’s the first proof that low-income households and "JAMs" championed by the Prime Minister are victims of Britain’s “broken” energy market.
And it urged Theresa May to live up to the promises of the past six months and intervene to guarantee a better deal for hard-up Brits being fleeced on gas and electricity.
Business Secretary Greg Clark slammed the Big Six in October for cashing in on loyal customers – saying he had a “duty to act”.
He said it was wrong that customers were paying more because they had stayed with suppliers on SVTs rather than switch.
The following month he vowed to respond to the Sun’s "Power to the People" campaign after we revealed energy giants were making profits seven times bigger than they claim.
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Npower in February admitted it charges more for standard variable tariffs so it can finance cheaper online deals for new customers.
Citizens Advice chief Gillian Guy said: “Energy firms are ripping off the loyal customers who can least afford it. Heating and lighting your home are basic necessities, not luxuries.
“But energy firms are still charging customers on the standard variable tariff £141 more on average for the same gas and electricity.”
Regulator Ofgem is introducing a price cap for customers on Pre-Payment Meters – which will slash their bills by £80 a year.
Citizens Advice wants the Government to extend this cap to other vulnerable customers who are eligible for benefits or Warm Home discounts.
The Sun last month revealed the Government was considering the “nuclear option” of introducing a regulated standard energy price to end the rip-off.
Ministers would expect suppliers to use this for customers who haven’t switched.
Ofgem claims there are nearly 20 million customers on standard energy accounts with the Big Six or Ovo, Utility Warehouse and the Co-operative.
Citizens Advice said around 11 per cent are families with children and an income of £15,500 or less, single over 65s or pensioner couples with an income of £15,500 or less.