Consumer group calls for energy cap cut-off date

Whitehall intervention must not stifle competition warns Which?

Any government intervention to cap energy prices should have a cut-off date and not stifle competition, Which? has stated in its manifesto for the upcoming snap election.

The consumer watchdog’s Consumer Agenda for Government, published today (29 April), includes a call for the next government to set out a clear position on energy market competition.

Any step into the market should have an end date, avoid higher overall prices and not stifle improvements to energy company performance or innovation.

Which? says the government should agree with the energy regulator clear criteria to monitor the success of any direct interventions, as well as new benchmarks for monitoring good energy market consumer outcomes.

The Which? manifesto also urges the rival parties to deliver new investment in smart metering, energy efficiency, energy generation and district heating cost effectively and transparently.

Energy price increases were identified as the second biggest consumer issue priority for the next government, according to a polling carried out by Which?

More than half of those surveyed (51 per cent) identified energy prices as a priority, second only to social care (65 per cent).

Concern about energy bills was highest amongst retired people (63 per cent) who rated it as the second most-important issue behind social care.

A higher proportion of women (54 per cent) saw energy prices as an issue than men (48 per cent).

Concern about fuel and energy prices have once again replaced public spending cuts as consumers’ biggest concern over the past year, according to Which?

The publication of the Which? document follows last weekend’s reports that the Conservative Party is planning to include a cap on energy price rises in its election manifesto.