Misinformation in Energy Prices

More Misinformation in Energy Prices

ENERGYLINX: As energy prices continue to fluctuate, customers should be disappointed to know that several accredited organisations continue to supply misinformation to their customers.

Following last month's price hike by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), a string of energy comparison sites and consumer welfare groups - many of which boast accreditation by watchdog Consumer Focus - have published numerous reports regarding the removal of certain tariffs, and made claims of which energy tariffs offer customers the best deal for their homes; however, many of these assertions are blatantly false.

For the last several weeks, the cheapest deal on the market has been Spark Energy's Tenant Direct tariff - a variable rate, single or dual fuel tariff that charges customers a nationwide average of £1,005.57 per year*. Meanwhile, numerous accredited sources - ranging from comparison sites to newspapers - have completely disregarded the UK's most affordable energy tariff by instead choosing to advertise more expensive plans as the 'nation's cheapest.'

Such false claims include the assertion that Sainsbury's Energy's Online Variable September 2013 is the UK's cheapest energy tariff, with an average cost of £1,070 per year. Other sites have asserted that ScottishPower's Online Fixed Price Energy January 2014 was the nation's 'market-leading' tariff at £1,052 per year. Prior to this false report, the same source claimed that First Utility's iSave Fixed v3 plan had been the UK's cheapest energy tariff at £1,040 per year, and that its successor was OVO Energy's New Energy Fixed, coming in at £1,088 a year - all the while, Spark Energy continued to offer customers a variable rate tariff at just £1,005.57 per year.

These blatant inaccuracies and knowing delivery of misinformation by accredited sources of information does not only perpetuate consumer confusion towards the UK's energy market, but should also be considered as embarrassment and betrayal of the general public. These oversights may be due in part to the fact that not all comparison sites have relationships with every energy supplier - and accordingly, fail to openly advertise the cheaper tariffs of so-called 'competitors'; however, this shameful and misleading practice must stop.

Energylinx has zero stake in Spark Energy; however, unlike other accredited comparison services, would never knowingly mislead energy customers so as to steer them towards a more expensive energy plan. Energylinx prides itself on maintaining reliability as a 100% impartial source, and will always provide its customers with the cheapest energy tariffs available - regardless of the false claims that other sites may report.

* These costs are based on the average of ALL distribution areas based on a standard user consuming 3,300 kWhs of electricity and 16,500 kWhs of gas per annum paying by monthly direct debit.