Big energy firms a turn-off for consumers

Published on 22/01/2013 00:51

SOME of the UK’s biggest energy companies have been rated the worst for customer satisfaction.

The Which? poll, coming as a spate of energy price rises hit consumers, put smaller firms at the top of the table for value for money and customer service. The big six, which dominate the market with a 98 per cent share, all ended up at the lower end of the scale.

Npower received the lowest overall score in the survey of more than 10,000 people, with a 39 per cent customer satisfaction rating. It was its second year at the bottom of the results table. EDF Energy had the second lowest rating of 46 per cent.

Npower chief executive Paul Massara, said he was “disappointed” and apologised to any customers feeling let down.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: “Yet again, customers have told us they are fed up with the way the biggest energy companies treat them, but the complexity of energy tariffs makes it hard to shop around.

“The government’s energy reforms need to go much further to increase competition.”