Caroline has called for stronger measures to stop the big six energy firms ‘ripping off’ their customers.

Between 2009 and 2013, British Gas, E-On, Npower, EDF Energy, Scottish Power and SSE collectively charged households £1.2bn a year more than they would have in a competitive market, the CMA said.

Caroline, who led a parliamentary debate calling for an energy price cap and the breakup of the big six in 2012, is calling for a radical shift to a community-owned, decentralised energy system.

She said:

“For too long now the big six energy firms have been ripping off their customers while raking in huge profits. Yet energy market rules continue to thwart community-owned and smaller independent alternatives.

“The interim findings by the CMA reveal an energy market that’s in desperate need of fundamental reform. But the focus on switching energy supplier as a solution falls far short of the mark.

Only by changing the rules to decentralise energy and put locally and community ownership of energy generation and supply at the heart of our system can we permanently end the scandal that sees customers collectively overpaying £1.2bn to the big energy firms.”

ENDS

Photo: Caroline backs Friends of the Earth's energy campaign in 2011