Ofgem launches Energy Best Deal campaign

Energy regulator Ofgem has launched Energy Best Deal, a campaign to empower low income customers with the information to help them make the most of the energy market. The campaign has been devised by Ofgem and Citizens Advice and has been funded by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

The campaign roll-out for this winter follows Ofgem's probe into the energy markets which found that some customers needed more information to help them participate in the market effectively.

Energy Best Deal will train local front line workers from Citizens Advice, Housing Associations, Credit Unions and other organisations so they can advise low-income customers about how to get the best deal for their energy.

The campaign also builds on the research under Ofgem's Consumer First programme which showed that many vulnerable customers needed more information and guidance about tariff and payments options, access to grants to install insulation and central heating and ways to manage bills through energy efficiency.

Ofgem Managing Director for Corporate Affairs, Sarah Harrison, said:"Ofgem has developed Energy Best Deal with Citizens Advice to provide free and trusted advice to customers on steps that can be taken now to manage down household energy bills, for example by switching tariff or payment method and by taking up help available to use energy more efficiently in the home."

"Making sure customers get the best deal from the energy market is one of the main aims of Ofgem's proposals following our energy supply market probe. We are determined that energy companies should end unfair pricing practices and provide better information to customers to help keep energy costs down."

Teresa Perchard, Director of Public Policy at Citizens Advice said: "Pilots of Energy Best Deal showed how much people could save simply by switching providers, tariffs or moving off a pre-payment meter, once they had access to clear information from a trusted source. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales have seen a seven per cent rise in enquiries on fuel debt over the last 12 months. By rolling out Energy Best Deal, bureaux will be equipping consumers with the information they need to reduce their fuel bills this winter"

As well as the Energy Best Deal campaign Ofgem is demanding action from the energy companies to improve the information customers get about their energy use following its investigation into the energy market. This could take the form of an easy-to-understand price metric to enable customers to compare prices easily.